Methods and compositions for treating and preventing HIV

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions are provided that can be used to vaccinate against and treat HIV. Specifically contemplated are vaccine compositions and methods of using these compositions treat HIV in patients. Aspects of the disclosure relate to an anti-CD40 antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein comprising (i) an anti-CD40 heavy chain (HCD40)-HIV antigen (Ag) fusion protein comprising the formula: HCD40-Ag, wherein Ag is a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1; and (ii) an anti-CD40 light chain (LCD40).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/563,158, filed Sep. 26, 2017, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against an HIV infection. More specifically, the invention relates to a HIV vaccine comprising an anti-DC receptor antibody or a fragment thereof, e.g. anti-CD40 antibody or a fragment thereof, to which at least one HIV antigen is fused or conjugated.

2. Description of Related Art

While treatment for HIV/AIDS has become a reality, in the United States an average of 50,000 new HIV infections are diagnosed each year in the United States and there is an estimated 34 million people living with HIV worldwide.

While a variety of options have been explored, dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that play a key role in regulating antigen-specific immunity (Mellman and Steinman 2001), (Banchereau, Briere et al. 2000), (Cella, Sallusto et al. 1997). DCs capture antigens, process them into peptides, and present these to T cells. Therefore delivering antigens directly to DC is a focus area for improving vaccines. One such example is the development of DC-based vaccines using ex-vivo antigen-loading of autologous DCs that are then re-administrated to patients (Banchereau, Schuler-Thurner et al. 2001), (Steinman and Dhodapkar 2001).

Another strategy to improve vaccine efficacy is specific targeting to DC of antigen conjugated to antibodies against internalizing DC-specific receptors. While first generation polypeptides have been created, improvements are needed to generate more efficacious therapeutic options. With the continued epidemic of AIDS throughout the world, there is still a need for HIV vaccines and treatment methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods and compositions are provided that can be used to vaccinate against and treat HIV. Specifically contemplated are vaccine compositions and methods of using these compositions treat or prevent a subject in need thereof from HIV infection. Aspects of the disclosure relate to an anti-dendritic cell (DC) receptor antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein comprising (i) an anti-DC receptor heavy chain (HDCR)-HIV antigen (Ag) fusion protein comprising the formula: HDCR-Ag, wherein Ag is a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1; and (ii) an anti-DC receptor light chain (LDCR).

In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody is selected from the group consisting of anti-DCIR antibody, anti-LOX-1 antibody, anti-langerin antibody and anti-CD40 antibody.

In a specific embodiment, the anti-DC receptor antibody is an anti-CD40 antibody having a heavy chain (HCD40) and a light chain (LCD40).

In some embodiments, the fusion protein further comprises one or more peptide linkers (PL). In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises: (i) HCD40-PL-Ag; and (ii) LCD40. In some embodiments, the fusion protein further comprises one or more joining sites (JS), wherein the joining site comprises alanine and serine residues. In some embodiments, the joining site consists of alanine and serine residues. In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises: (i) HDCR-JS-Ag-JS; and (ii) LDCR. In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises (i) HCD40-JS-PL-JS-Ag-JS; and (ii) LCD40. In some embodiments, the peptide linker comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2. In some embodiments, the peptide linker comprises a polypeptide with at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% sequence identity (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO:2, or a fragment of at least 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 (or any derivable range therein) contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.

In some embodiments, PL-JS-Ag-JS comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:3. In some embodiments, PL-JS-Ag-JS comprises a polypeptide with at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% sequence identity (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO:3, or a fragment of at least 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, or 661 (or any derivable range therein) contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:3.

In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody, e.g. the anti-CD40 antibody is a human or humanized antibody. In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody, e.g. the anti-CD40 antibody, comprises human IgG4 heavy chain constant region. In some embodiments, the human IgG4 heavy chain constant region comprises one or both of S241P and L248E substitutions according to Kabat numbering.

In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GFTFSDYYMY (SEQ ID NO:10), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINSGGGSTYYPDTVKG (SEQ ID NO.:11), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence RGLPFHAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:12). In some embodiments, the LCD40 is comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence SASQGISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:13) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSILHS (SEQ ID NO.:14) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence QQFNKLPPT (SEQ ID NO.:15). In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody comprises a HCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GFTFSDYYMY (SEQ ID NO.:10), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINSGGGSTYYPDTVKG (SEQ ID NO.:11), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence RGLPFHAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:12) and a LCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence SASQGISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:13) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSILHS (SEQ ID NO.:14) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence QQFNKLPPT (SEQ ID NO.:15).

In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYSFTGYYMH (SEQ ID NO.:18), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence RINPYNGATSYNQNFKD (SEQ ID NO.:19), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence EDYVY (SEQ ID NO.:20). In some embodiments, the LCD40 is comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH (SEQ ID NO.:21) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence KVSNRFS (SEQ ID NO.:22) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence SQSTHVPWT (SEQ ID NO.:23). In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody comprises a HCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYSFTGYYMH (SEQ ID NO.:18), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence RINPYNGATSYNQNFKD (SEQ ID NO.:19), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence EDYVY (SEQ ID NO.:20) and a LCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH (SEQ ID NO.:21) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence KVSNRFS (SEQ ID NO.:22) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence SQSTHVPWT (SEQ ID NO.:23).

In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYTFTDYVLH (SEQ ID NO.:26), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINPYNDGTKYNEKFKG (SEQ ID NO.:27), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence GYPAYSGYAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:28). In some embodiments, the LCD40 is comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RASQDISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:29) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSRLHS (SEQ ID NO.:30) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence HHGNTLPWT (SEQ ID NO.:31). In some embodiments, the anti-DC receptor antibody comprises a HCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYTFTDYVLH (SEQ ID NO.:26), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINPYNDGTKYNEKFKG (SEQ ID NO.:27), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence GYPAYSGYAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:28) and a LCD40 comprising the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RASQDISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:29) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSRLHS (SEQ ID NO.:30) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence HHGNTLPWT (SEQ ID NO.:31).

In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS: 10, 18, and 26, the CDR2H having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS:11, 19, and 27, and the CDR3H having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS:12, 20, and 28. In some embodiments, the LCD40 is comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS: 13, 21, and 29, the CDR2L having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS: 14, 22, and 30, and the CDR3L having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% identical to one of SEQ ID NOS:15, 23, and 31.

In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:4. In some embodiments, the HCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% sequence identity (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO:4. In some embodiments, the LCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5. In some embodiments, the LCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% sequence identity (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO:5.

In some embodiments, the fusion protein comprises: (i) a HCD40-Ag fusion protein comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6; and (ii) a LCD40 comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:5.

Throughout the disclosure, LCD40 refers to a light chain of an anti-CD40 antibody. Likewise, HCD40 refers to a heavy chain of an anti-CD40 antibody.

Further aspects of the disclosure relate to a polynucleotide encoding for a fusion protein of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide comprise a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO: 7. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide comprise a nucleotide sequence that is at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% identical (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO: 7. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide comprise a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO: 8. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide comprise a nucleotide sequence that is at least 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% identical (or any derivable range therein) to SEQ ID NO: 8.

Further aspects relate to an expression vector comprising one or more polynucleotides of the disclosure. Yet further aspects relate to a host cell comprising one or more polynucleotides, expression vectors, or fusion proteins of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the host cells is a mammalian cell. In some embodiments, the mammalian cells comprise Chinese hamster ovary cells. Further aspects relate to a fusion protein isolated from a host cell of the disclosure.

Expression vectors may be constructed with diverse protein coding sequence e.g., fused in-frame to the H chain coding sequence. For example, HIV antigens may be expressed subsequently as Ab.Ag_(x), which in the context of this invention, can have utility derived from using the anti-CD40 V-region sequence to bring the antigen directly to the surface of the antigen presenting cell bearing CD40. This permits internalization of e.g., antigen and ensuing initiation of therapeutic or protective action (e.g., via initiation of a potent immune response).

In some cases, particular amino acid sequences corresponding to anti-DC receptor monoclonal antibodies that are desirable components (in the context of e.g., humanized recombinant antibodies) of therapeutic or protective products. The following are such sequences in the context of chimeric mouse V region (underlined) human C region recombinant antibodies. These mouse V regions can be readily humanized, i.e., the combining regions grafted onto human V region framework sequences, by anyone well practiced in this art. Furthermore, the sequences can also be expressed in the context of fusion proteins that preserve antibody functionality, but add e.g., antigen for desired therapeutic applications.

Further aspects relate to a vaccine comprising a fusion protein of the disclosure and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

Further aspects relate to a method for treating or preventing from HIV infection in a subject comprising administering a fusion protein of the disclosure to the subject. Yet further aspects relate to a method for eliciting and/or enhancing B-cell and/or T-cell response against HIV, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject in need thereof, a fusion protein or vaccine of the disclosure. Further aspects relate to a method for inducing IgG binding antibody responses to V1V2 region antigens in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering the fusion protein of the disclosure or the vaccine composition of the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises administration of an immunostimulant. In some embodiments, the immunostimulant is administered sequentially or concomitantly to the vaccine composition. In some embodiments, the immunostimulant is mixed with the vaccine composition extemporaneously prior to injection of the vaccine composition to the subject.

Vaccine compositions may also contain one or more adjuvants. Additionally, the methods of the disclosure may also comprise the administration of one or more adjuvants. The adjuvants may be attached or conjugated directly or indirectly to one or more of the vaccine components, such as an antigen or antibody. In other embodiments the adjuvants may be provided or administered separately from the vaccine composition. In certain embodiments the adjuvant is poly ICLC, CpG, LPS, Immunoquid, PLA, GLA or cytokine adjuvants such as IFNα. In other embodiments the adjuvant may be a toll-like receptor agonist (TLR). Examples of TLR agonists that may be used comprise TLR1 agonist, TLR2 agonist, TLR3 agonist, TLR4 agonist, TLR5 agonist, TLR6 agonist, TLR7 agonist, TLR8 agonist or TLR9 agonist. In certain embodiments, a vaccine composition specifically does not contain PLA as an adjuvant. In some embodiments, the immunostimulant comprises a TLR agonist. In some embodiments, the TLR agonist comprises poly ICLC.

In some embodiments, the method excludes administration of a TLR agonist.

In some embodiments, an HIV vaccine comprises a population of dendritic cells (DC) activated with an antibody-antigen fusion protein (Ab.Ag) or an antibody-antigen complex (Ab:Ag) as described for anti-CD40 vaccines. In yet other embodiments a first HIV vaccine of the disclosure, e.g. anti-CD40 vaccine is combined with a second HIV vaccine. The second HIV vaccine may be selected from the group consisting of an attenuated recombinant virus or viral-vector based, Virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine, DNA vaccine (naked or not), RNA-based vector vaccine, protein-based vaccine and a DC-targeting vaccine. In certain embodiments, the attenuated recombinant virus may be an attenuated recombinant poxvirus. In certain embodiments, the second vaccine is DNA-HIV-PT123.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises administration of an additional vaccine. In some embodiments, the additional vaccine is administered as a priming vaccine. In some embodiments, the additional vaccine comprises a vaccinia virus vaccine. In some embodiments, the additional vaccine comprises one or more of a gag, pol, and nef peptide.

In some embodiments, the administration comprises intradermal, intramuscular, or subcutaneous administration.

In some embodiments, the additional vaccine comprises an attenuated recombinant poxvirus. In some embodiments, the additional vaccine is selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC and MVA virus. Specifically, the NYVAC virus may be a NYVAC-KC virus.

In some embodiments, the HIV vaccine, e.g. anti-CD40 HIV vaccine, is used in a method for potentiating an immune response to at least one HIV epitope comprising administering to a patient such HIV vaccine as described herein. In some embodiments, such HIV vaccine is used to prevent healthy subject to be infected by HIV, comprising administering such HIV vaccine of the present disclosure, e.g. HIV anti-CD40 vaccine to a healthy subject, not infected by HIV (preventive treatment). In other embodiments, the HIV vaccine of the present disclosure is used in a method of treating a patient in the early stages of an HIV infection comprising administering to a patient an anti-CD40 HIV vaccine.

It is contemplated that at least one HIV antigen elicits at least one of a humoral and/or a cellular immune response in a host, preferably a human patient or a primate.

Further aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for making an anti-DC receptor antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein, the method comprising expressing and polynucleotide of the disclosure or an expression vector of the disclosure in a host cell and purifying the fusion protein from the host cell. In some embodiments, the host cell is a CHO cell. In some embodiments, at least 1.5 mg/mL of the fusion protein is purified. In some embodiments, at least 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9. 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, or 4 mg/mL (or any derivable range therein) is purified from the host cell.

The preparation of HIV vaccine as the active immunogenic ingredient, may be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid prior to infection can also be prepared. The preparation may be emulsified, encapsulated in liposomes. The active immunogenic ingredients are often mixed with carriers which are pharmaceutically acceptable and compatible with the active ingredient.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a carrier that does not cause an allergic reaction or other untoward effect in subjects to whom it is administered. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, for example, one or more of water, saline, phosphate buffered saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, or the like and combinations thereof. In addition, if desired, the vaccine can contain minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, and/or adjuvants which enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine. Examples of adjuvants that may be effective include but are not limited to: aluminum hydroxide, N-acetyl-muramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine (thr-MDP), N-acetyl-nor-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, MTP-PE and RIBI, which contains three components extracted from bacteria, monophosphoryl lipid A, trehalose dimycolate and cell wall skeleton (MPL+TDM+CWS) in a 2% squalene/Tween 80 emulsion. Other examples of adjuvants include DDA (dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide), Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants and QuilA. In addition, immune modulating substances such as lymphokines (e.g., IFN-[gamma], IL-2 and IL-12) or synthetic IFN-[gamma] inducers such as poly I:C or poly ICLC (Hiltonol) can be used in combination with adjuvants described herein.

Vaccines may include an effective amount of the antibody-antigen fusion protein (Ab.Ag) or the antibody-antigen complex (Ab:Ag), dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or aqueous medium. Such compositions can also be referred to as inocula. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, its use in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients also can be incorporated into the compositions. The compositions of the present invention may include classic pharmaceutical preparations. Dispersions also can be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Administration of vaccines according to the present invention will be via any common route so long as the target tissue is available via that route in order to maximize the delivery of antigen to a site for maximum (or in some cases minimum) immune response. Administration will generally be by orthotopic, intradermal, mucosally, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal or intravenous injection. Other areas for delivery include: oral, nasal, buccal, rectal, vaginal or topical. Vaccines of the invention are preferably administered parenterally, by injection, for example, either subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Vaccines may be administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in such amount as will be prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective. The quantity to be administered depends on the subject to be treated, including, e.g., capacity of the subject's immune system to synthesize antibodies, and the degree of protection or treatment desired. Suitable dosage ranges are of the order of several hundred micrograms active ingredient per vaccination with a range from about 0.1 mg to 1000 mg, such as in the range from about 1 mg to 300 mg, or in the range from about 10 mg to 50 mg. Suitable regiments for initial administration and booster shots are also variable but are typified by an initial administration followed by subsequent inoculations or other administrations. Precise amounts of active ingredient required to be administered depend on the judgment of the practitioner and may be peculiar to each subject. It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the therapeutically effective amount of nucleic acid molecule or fusion polypeptides of this invention will depend, inter alia, upon the administration schedule, the unit dose of antigen administered, whether the antibody-antigen fusion protein (Ab.Ag) or the antibody-antigen complex (Ab:Ag) is administered in combination with other therapeutic agents, the immune status and health of the recipient, and the therapeutic activity of the particular the Ab.Ag or the Ab:Ag.

A vaccine may be given in a single dose schedule or in a multiple dose schedule. A multiple dose schedule is one in which a primary course of vaccination may include, e.g., 1-10 separate doses, followed by other doses given at subsequent time intervals required to maintain and or reinforce the immune response, for example, at 1-4 months for a second dose, and if needed, a subsequent dose(s) after several months. Periodic boosters at intervals of 1-5 years, usually 3 years, are desirable to maintain the desired levels of protective immunity. The course of the immunization can be followed by in vitro proliferation assays of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) co-cultured with gp140 antigen, and by measuring the levels of IFN-[gamma] released from the primed lymphocytes. The assays may be performed using conventional labels, such as radionucleotides, enzymes, fluorescent labels and the like. These techniques are known to one skilled in the art and can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,932, 4,174,384 and 3,949,064, relevant portions incorporated by reference.

A vaccine may be provided in one or more “unit doses”. Unit dose is defined as containing a predetermined-quantity of the vaccine calculated to produce the desired responses in association with its administration, i.e., the appropriate route and treatment regimen. The quantity to be administered, and the particular route and formulation, are within the skill of those in the clinical arts. The subject to be treated may also be evaluated, in particular, the state of the subject's immune system and the protection desired. A unit dose need not be administered as a single injection but may include continuous infusion over a set period of time. The amount of vaccine delivered can vary from about 0.001 to about 0.05 mg/kg body weight, for example between 0.1 to 5 mg per subject. Thus, in particular embodiments, 0.3 mg, 0.4 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.6 mg, 0.7 mg, 0.8 mg, 0.9 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.1 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.3 mg, 1.4 mg, 1.5 mg, 1.6 mg, 1.7 mg, 1.8 mg, 1.9 mg, 2.0 mg, 2.1 mg, 2.2 mg, 2.3 mg, 2.4 mg, 2.5 mg, 2.6 mg, 2.7 mg, 2.8 mg, 2.9 mg, 3.0 mg, 3.1 mg, 3.2 mg, 3.3 mg, 3.4 mg, 3.5 mg, 3.6 mg, 3.7 mg, 3.8 mg, 3.9 mg, 4.0 mg, 4.1 mg, 4.2 mg, 4.3 mg, 4.4 mg, 4.5 mg, 4.6 mg, 4.7 mg, 4.8 mg, 4.9 mg, or 5.0 mg (or any derivable range therein), of the antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein in the vaccine and/or additional vaccine may be delivered to an individual in vivo. In some embodiments, the amount of vaccine delivered can be at least, at most, or exactly about 0.001 mg/kg, 0.002 mg/kg, 0.003 mg/kg, 0.004 mg/kg, 0.005 mg/kg, 0.006 mg/kg, 0.007 mg/kg, 0.008 mg/kg, 0.009 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg, 0.012 mg/kg, 0.014 mg/kg, 0.016 mg/kg, 0.018 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, 0.022 mg/kg, 0.024 mg/kg, 0.026 mg/kg, 0.028 mg/kg, 0.03 mg/kg, 0.032 mg/kg, 0.034 mg/kg, 0.036 mg/kg, 0.038 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.042 mg/kg, 0.044 mg/kg, 0.046 mg/kg, 0.048 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.052 mg/kg, 0.054 mg/kg, 0.056 mg/kg, 0.058 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg, 0.062 mg/kg, 0.064 mg/kg, 0.066 mg/kg, 0.068 mg/kg, or 0.07 mg/kg (or any derivable range therein), of the antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein in the vaccine and/or additional vaccine may be delivered to an individual in vivo. The dosage of vaccine to be administered depends to a great extent on the weight and physical condition of the subject being treated as well as the route of administration and the frequency of treatment.

In another aspect, embodiments relate to a combined HIV vaccine comprising a first HIV vaccine as described above and a second HIV vaccine. Therefore, in some methods a patient may be administered both an HIV vaccine composition discussed above, such as a dendritic-cell antibody attached to an HIV antigen, and a recombinant attenuated poxvirus that encodes for at least one HIV antigen. It is contemplated that in some embodiments the recombinant attenuated poxvirus is administered after the first HIV vaccine composition has been administered. It is further contemplated that the HIV antigens provided to the patient in the first and second HIV vaccines may be the same or they may be different. It is also contemplated that the administration of the first and second vaccines can be reversed such that the second vaccine is administered first and the first vaccine is administered second. It additionally contemplated that the first and second vacccines be administered at the same time. In instances when the first and second vaccines are not administered at the same time it is contemplated that the vaccines may be administered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 days apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52 weeks apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 months apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 years apart (or any derivable range therein. Furthermore, any one vaccine (either the fusion protein of the disclosure or the additional vaccine) may be administered at least, at most, or exactly 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times (or any derivable range therein) throught one course of treatment, such as a prescribed course of treatment by a medical professional. When the vaccine is administered more than once, it may be administered at least, at most, or exactly 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 days apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52 weeks apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 months apart or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 years apart (or any derivable range therein).

In one embodiment, the second HIV vaccine is selected from the group consisting of an attenuated recombinant virus or viral-vector based, Virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine, DNA vaccine (naked or not), RNA-based vector vaccine, protein-based vaccine and a DC-targeting vaccine. In certain embodiments, the attenuated recombinant virus may be an attenuated recombinant poxvirus.

Further aspects relate to a kit comprising a fusion protein of the disclosure, a polynucleotide of the disclosure, an expression vector of the disclosure, or a host cell of the disclosure, and; optionally, instructions for use of the kit. The kit may be used to perform the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the kit is for eliciting a T cell response and/or a B cell response in a subject; wherein the kit comprises the fusion protein of the disclosure or the vaccine of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “attenuated recombinant virus” refers to a virus that has been genetically altered by modern molecular biological methods, e. g. restriction endonuclease and ligase treatment, and rendered less virulent than wild type, typically by deletion of specific genes or by serial passage in a non-natural host cell line or at cold temperatures.

In one particular embodiment, the attenuated recombinant virus is an attenuated recombinant poxvirus.

“Poxviruses” are large, enveloped viruses with double-stranded DNA that is covalently closed at the ends. Pox viruses replicate entirely in the cytoplasm, establishing discrete centers of viral synthesis. Their use as vaccines has been known since the early 1980's (see, e. g. Panicali, et al., 1983).

In one particular embodiment, the attenuated recombinant poxvirus is selected from the group consisting of NYVAC, ALVAC and MVA virus. In one embodiment, the NYVAC virus is a NYVAC-KC virus. In other embodiments, the second HIV vaccine is DNA-HIV-PT123.

In some embodiments, the mAb is humanized (i.e., converted to a sequence which retains the original key residues crucial for receptor binding, but has variable region framework and constant region sequences that are typically found in human antibodies).

As used herein, the term “vaccine” is intended to mean a composition which can be administered to humans or to animals in order to induce an immune response; this immune response can result in a production of antibodies or simply in the activation of certain cells, in particular antigen-presenting cells, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. In certain embodiments the vaccine is capable of producing an immune response that leads to the production of neutralizing antibodies in the patient with respect to the antigen provided in the vaccine. The vaccine can be a composition for prophylactic purposes or for therapeutic purposes, or both.

As used herein, the term “antigen” refers to any antigen that can be used in a vaccine, whether it involves a whole microorganism or a portion thereof, and various types: (e.g., peptide, protein, glycoprotein, polysaccharide, glycolipid, lipopeptide, etc). Thus, the term “antigen” refers to a molecule that can initiate a humoral and/or cellular immune response in a recipient of the antigen. The antigen is usually a molecule that causes a disease for which a vaccination would be advantageous treatment. Within the context of the invention, the antigens are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens; the term “antigen” also comprises the polynucleotides, the sequences of which are chosen so as to encode the antigens whose expression by the individuals to which the polynucleotides are administered is desired, in the case of the immunization technique referred to as DNA immunization.

As used herein, the term “antibodies” refers to immunoglobulins, whether natural or partially or wholly produced artificially, e.g. recombinant. An antibody may be monoclonal or polyclonal. The antibody may, in some cases, be a member of one, or a combination immunoglobulin classes, including: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE.

As used herein, the term “antibody or fragment thereof,” includes whole antibodies or fragments of an antibody, e.g., Fv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fc, and single chain Fv fragments (ScFv) or any biologically effective fragments of an immunoglobulins that binds specifically to, e.g., CD40. Antibodies from human origin or humanized antibodies have lowered or no immunogenicity in humans and have a lower number or no immunogenic epitopes compared to non-human antibodies. Antibodies and their fragments will generally be selected to have a reduced level or no antigenicity in humans. A polypeptide that has one or more CDRs from a monoclonal antibody and that may have at least as good as a binding specificity and/or affinity of a monoclonal antibody may be referred to as an “antibody fragment” or a polypeptide comprises an antibody fragment.

Typically, the term “antibody or fragment thereof” describes a recombinant antibody system that has been engineered to provide a target specific antibody. The monoclonal antibody made using standard hybridoma techniques, recombinant antibody display, humanized monoclonal antibodies and the like. The antibody can be used to, e.g., target (via one primary recombinant antibody against an internalizing receptor, e.g., a human dendritic cell receptor such as CD40) one or several antigens and/or one adjuvant to dendritic cells. Any embodiment discussed in the context of an antibody may be implemented in the context of an antibody fragment, including a polypeptide comprising one or more CDRs from an antibody, more specifically an antibody comprising the CDRs 1, 2 and 3 of the heavy chain variable region of a specific antibody and the CDRs 1, 2 and 3 of the light chain variable region of the same specific antibody.

As used herein, the term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody composition having a homogeneous antibody population. The term is not limited regarding the species or source of the antibody, nor is it intended to be limited by the manner in which it is made. The term encompasses whole immunoglobulins as well as fragments such as Fab, F(ab′)2, Fv, and other fragments that exhibit immunological binding properties of the parent monoclonal antibody molecule.

As used herein, the term “antigen-binding site” or “binding portion” refers to the part of the immunoglobulin molecule that participates in antigen binding. The antigen binding site is formed by amino acid residues of the N-terminal variable (“V”) regions of the heavy (“H”) and light (“L”) chains. Three highly divergent stretches within the V regions of the heavy and light chains are referred to as “hypervariable regions” which are interposed between more conserved flanking stretches known as “framework regions” (FRs). As used herein, the term “FR” refers to amino acid sequences which are found naturally between and adjacent to hypervariable regions in immunoglobulins. In an antibody molecule, the three hypervariable regions of a light chain and the three hypervariable regions of a heavy chain are disposed relative to each other in three dimensional space to form an antigen-binding surface. The antigen-binding surface is complementary to the three-dimensional surface of a bound antigen, and the three hypervariable regions of each of the heavy and light chains are referred to as “complementarity-determining regions” or “CDRs”.

As used herein, the term “humanized” antibody refers to those molecules comprising an antigen-binding site derived from a non-human immunoglobulin have been described, including chimeric antibodies having rodent V regions and their associated CDRs fused to human constant domains, rodent CDRs grafted into a human supporting FR prior to fusion with an appropriate human antibody constant domain, and rodent CDRs supported by recombinantly veneered rodent FRs. These “humanized” molecules are designed to minimize unwanted immunological response toward rodent antihuman antibody molecules, which limits the duration and effectiveness of therapeutic applications of those moieties in human recipients.

The terms “adjuvant” or “immunoadjuvant” may be used interchangeably and refer to a substance that enhances, augments or potentiates the host's immune response to an antigen, e.g., an antigen that is part of a vaccine. Non-limiting examples of some commonly used vaccine adjuvants include insoluble aluminum compounds, calcium phosphate, liposomes, Virosomes™, ISCOMS®, microparticles (e.g., PLG), emulsions (e.g., MF59, Montanides), virus-like particles & viral vectors. PolyICLC (a synthetic complex of carboxymethylcellulose, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, and poly-L-lysine double-stranded RNA), which is a TLR3 agonist, is used as an adjuvant in the present invention. It will be understood that other TLR agonists may also be used (e.g. TLR4 agonists, TLR5 agonists, TLR7 agonists, TLR9 agonists; also as described in PCT publication number WO/2012/021834 or WO/2012/122396, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference), or any combinations or modifications thereof.

As used herein, the term “conjugate” refers to any substance formed from the joining together of two parts. Representative conjugates in accordance with the present invention include those formed by joining together of the antigen with the antibody and/or the adjuvant. The term “conjugation” refers to the process of forming the conjugate and is usually done by physical coupling, e.g. covalent binding, co-ordination covalent, or secondary binding forces, e.g. Van der Waals bonding forces. The process of linking the antigen to the antibody and/or to the adjuvant can also be done via a non-covalent association such as a dockerin-cohesin association (as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20100135994, Banchereau et al. relevant portions incorporated herein by reference) or by a direct chemical linkage by forming a peptide or chemical bond.

As used herein, “Dendritic Cells” (DCs) refers to any member of a diverse population of morphologically similar cell types found in lymphoid or non-lymphoid tissues. These cells are characterized by their distinctive morphology, high levels of surface MHC-class II expression (Steinman, et al., 1991); incorporated herein by reference for its description of such cells). These cells can be isolated from a number of tissue sources, and conveniently, from peripheral blood, as described herein.

As used herein, the term “HIV” refers to the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV includes, without limitation, HIV-1. HIV may be either of the two known types of HIV, i.e., HIV-1 or HIV-2. The HIV-1 virus may represent any of the known major subtypes or clades (e.g., Classes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, and H) or outlying subtype (Group O). Also encompassed are other HIV-1 subtypes or clades that may be isolated.

Methods are provided for preventing or treating an HIV infection comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an HIV vaccine or a combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein. In certain embodiments, there are methods for inducing an immune response to at least one HIV epitope comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an HIV vaccine or a combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein. Other methods are provided for potentiating an immune response to at least one HIV epitope comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an HIV vaccine or a combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein.

In some embodiments, there are methods of preventing a subject from being infected by HIV comprising administering to a subject, for example a healthy subject diagnosed as non-infected by HIV, an HIV vaccine or combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein.

In further embodiments there are methods of treating a patient in the early stages of an HIV infection comprising administering to the patient an HIV vaccine or a combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein.

In some cases, there are methods of treating a patient comprising administering to the patient an HIV vaccine or a combination of vaccines as discussed above or herein.

Methods may involve a patient tested for an HIV infection, a patient determined to be infected with HIV, a patient with symptoms of early stage HIV infection, a patient who is at risk for HIV infection, a patient whose HIV infection status is known, or a patient previously treated for HIV infection. In certain embodiments, the patient is a patient who is pregnant. In other embodiments, a patient is a pediatric patient whose mother was infected with HIV. In other embodiments, the patient is a pediatric patient above the age of 13 years old. In certain embodiments, the patient has been exposed to HIV.

In some embodiments, methods further comprise testing the patient for HIV infection or diagnosing a patient with HIV infection. Additional methods may also involve treating a patient also with other HIV treatments such as HIV/AIDS small molecule treatments.

In certain aspects, methods further comprise generating a neutralizing antibody. In certain instances, said method comprises administering an HIV vaccine composition of the present disclosure.

Any embodiment discussed in the context of an antibody may be implemented in any method embodiment discussed herein.

As used herein the specification, “a” or “an” may mean one or more. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one.

The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” As used herein “another” may mean at least a second or more.

Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1A-H. Serum Env gp140-specific IgG responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. Total binding IgG antibody levels against Clade C gp140 (Vaccine Strain, ZM96) (A), Group M gp140 (Consensus) (B), Clade C gp140 (Consensus) (C), Clade B gp140 (Consensus) (D), Clade B V1-V2 Env (gp70 B.CaseA V1V2) (E), and Clade C V1-V2 (C.1086C V1V2 Tags) (F), Clade AE V1-V2 (AE.A244 V1V2 Tags) (G), Clade AE V2 (AE.A244 V2 Tags) (H) induced by the different vaccination groups are shown. Individual serum samples were obtained at weeks 6, 14, 26, and 32 from each macaque (n=6 per group) immunized as per G1 N2[LpN]2, G2 N2[CpN]2, G3 N2Lp2, G4 N2Cp2, and G5 N2C2 (Table 1). Binding antibodies were measured by BAMA as indicated in Materials and Methods. The magnitudes of the antibody responses are expressed as the AUC from serial dilutions of plasma. Each dot represents the value for one individual macaque. Weeks of sampling are indicated above each frame and groups are defined below each frame. Response rates for each group are given above each dataset. The mid-line of the box denotes the median, and the ends of the box denote the 25^(th) and 75^(th) percentiles. The whiskers that extend from the top and bottom of the box extend to the most extreme data points that are no more than 1.5 times the interquartile range (i.e., the height of the box) or if no value meets this criterion, to the data extremes. Table 2 shows statistical analysis of paired comparisons of serum IgG responses against various Env antigens, including those exemplified in this figure.

FIG. 2. Serum Env gp140-specific IgA responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. Total binding IgA antibody levels against Clade C gp140 (Vaccine Strain, ZM96) induced by the different vaccination groups are shown. Individual serum samples were obtained at weeks 6, 14, 26, and 32 from each macaque (n=6 per group) immunized as per G1 N2[LpN]2, G2 N2[CpN]2, G3 N2Lp2, G4 N2Cp2, and G5 N2C2 (Table 1). Binding antibodies were measured as indicated in Materials and Methods. Each panel shows anti-Env IgA binding units (MFI) of individual NHPs. Plotting details are as described in FIG. 1, except IgA levels were log10-transformed.

FIG. 3. Env gp120 epitope-specific IgG responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. A gp160 peptide array was probed with week 0 (for baseline) and week 26 (at peak response) plasma from 17 animals representing all 5 immunization groups, selected based on higher binding (per group) to ZM96 gp140 and/or 1086 V1V2 Tags. Three animals each were tested from Groups 1, 3, and 5, and four animals each were tested from Group 2 and 4. Mean binding values for each gp120 peptide are shown for group 1 to 5 (G1-G5). Data from vaccine strains for clade B (MN), clade C (TV1, 1086C and ZM651), and clade AE (A244 and TH023) are combined with the consensus of each to represent clade B, C, and AE, respectively. Epitope regions identified in the study are indicated with texts over horizontal bars in plots. Summary data for each epitope shown here are presented in Table 3.

FIG. 4A-B. Serum neutralizing antibody responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. (A) Neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 were measured as a function of reduction in Tat-regulated reporter gene expression in TZM-bl cells infected with HIV-1 isolate MW965. Neutralizing antibody titer values are ID50. Samples were tested from sera collected at weeks −4, 14, 26, and 32. Groups are indicated beside the graph. Each dot represents the value for one individual macaque. (B) The graph shows the area under MB curves (Material and Methods) used to summarize overall breadth and magnitude of neutralizing antibody activities against A3R5 virus for each individual time point. Samples were tested from sera collected at weeks −4, 14, 26, and 32. Groups are indicated below the graph. Table 4 shows analysis of paired comparisons of ID50 values for isolates MW965 and Th023.6.

FIG. 5. ADCC-mediated antibody responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. ADCC-mediating serum antibodies were measured by the GranToxLux assay that measures percent granzyme B activity against HIV-Env protein-coated cells. Response rates are given at the top of each graph column.

FIG. 6. Blood HIV-1 antigen-specific T cell responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. PBMCs were analyzed by IFNγ ELISPOT for responses to three Env gp140 peptide pools. Sample collection times are shown in weeks below the graph. Dots are results for individual animals and the box plots represent the distribution of values with the bars indicating the median values for the group. No significant responses were detected against non-Env HIV peptides (not shown). Statistical analysis of blood HIV-1 antigen-specific T cell responses elicited at week 26 by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration IFNγ ELISPOT responses summed over all antigens were by the Wilcoxon rank sum test showed G1 vs. G3 (p=0.699), G2 vs. G4 (p=0.065), G1 vs. G2 (p=0.180), G3 vs. G4 (p=0.818) and G4 vs. G5 (p=0.143). For the week 32 data the analysis showed G1 vs. G3 (p=0.699), G2 vs. G4 (p=0.009*), G1 vs. G2 (p=0.015*), G3 vs. G4 (p=1.000) and G4 vs. G5 (p=0.010*).

FIG. 7. Specificity and magnitude of blood HIV-1 antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. PBMCs from blood collected at week 26, and 32 were analyzed by ICS for CD4+ T cell responses to HIV-1 antigen peptide pools (indicated above the graph). In contrast to FIG. 6, these data combine IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα cytokine secretion responses as well as integrating responses across All Env (the response patterns represented with combined cytokine responses were similar to those seen when the individual cytokine responses were plotted). Dots are results for individual animals and the box plots represent the distribution of values with the bars indicating the median values for the responders in the group (indicated below each panel).

FIG. 8. Specificity and magnitude of blood HIV-1 antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses elicited by αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein administration. PBMCs from blood collected at week 26 and 32 were analyzed by ICS for CD8+ T cell responses to HIV-1 antigen peptide pools (indicated above the graph). In contrast to FIG. 6, the data combine IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα cytokine secretion responses as well as integrating responses across All Env (the response patterns represented with combined cytokine responses were similar to those seen when the individual cytokine responses were plotted). Dots are results for individual animals and the box plots represent the distribution of values with the bars indicating the median values for the responders in the group (indicated below each panel).

FIG. 9A-B. Durability of plasma IgG binding (A) and serum neutralizing (B) antibody responses evaluated as proportion of change per week. Proportion of change per week is calculated as [(Response at durability time point—response at peak time point)/Response at peak time point]/number of weeks between peak and durability time points, and is only calculated for animals that showed positive response for peak immunity time point. The mid-line of the box denotes the median, and the ends of the box denote the 25th and 75th percentiles. The whiskers that extend from the top and bottom of the box extend to the most extreme data points that are no more than 1.5 times the interquartile range (i.e., the height of the box) or if no value meets this criterion, to the data extremes. For binding antibody response, AUC from titration data in BAMA are used for the calculation. ID50 titers are used for neutralization response. Descriptive statistics of these values and results for between-group comparisons are in Table 5.

FIG. 10A-D. Pair-wise comparison of magnitude of binding (A), neutralizing (B), ADCC (C), and T cell responses (D) between DC-targeted gp140 boost regimens (G1-G5 current study and ExtDC-N2Lp3) and the non-DC-targeting gp120 boost regimen ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 at peak immunity time point. In particular note, IgG binding to Con S gp140 CF for the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 group was 4 to 11-fold higher than G1-G5 in the current study, with P values ≤0.0002 for each group in pair-wise comparison (2-tailed t test) (Table 6). IgG binding to gp70-B.CaseA V1V2 scaffold for the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 animals was 4 to 27-fold that of G1-G5 in the current study with P values <0.01 in pair-wise comparison (2-tailed t test). IgA response was also significantly higher for the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 animals compared to G1-G5 in the current study (Table 6). For B values are significantly higher in the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 group compared to G1-G5 with P values <0.01 for most (2-tailed t test) (Table 7). The highest difference was seen against Tier 1A clade C MW965.26, where ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 showed 7 to 29-fold higher ID50 titer compared to G1-G5 of current study. ADCC response measured with Env coated cells was significantly higher for ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 compared to all 5 groups in current study at week 26. The differences ranged from 3-12 fold for AUC values (Table 8).

FIG. 11A-B. Durability of binding (A) and neutralizing (B) antibody responses evaluated as proportion of change per week. See FIG. 9 legend for calculation of proportion of change per week. For binding antibody response, AUC from titration data in BAMA are used for the calculation. ID50 titers are used for neutralization response. Boxes show 95% confidence interval and thick bars show mean of group. Proportion of change per week was only calculated for animals that showed positive response for both peak and durability time points. Descriptive statistics of these values and for values on additional antigens tested in BAMA are in Table 10.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the Examples of the application, anti-CD40-env gp140 fusion proteins increased B cell and T cell responses in vaccinated animals. The responses were robust, cross-reactive, and contained antibodies specific to multiple epitopes within gp140 including the C1, C2, V1-3, C4, C5, and gp41 immuno-dominant regions. The DC-targeting vaccines also elicited modest serum Env-specific IgA responses. Furthermore, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses specific to multiple Env epitopes were strongly boosted by the DC-targeting vaccines administered in combination with poly ICLC.

I. Nucleic Acids

In certain embodiments, there are recombinant nucleic acids encoding the proteins, polypeptides, or peptides described herein. Polynucleotide contemplated for use in methods and compositions include those encoding antibodies to CD40 or binding portions thereof.

As used in this application, the term “polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid molecule that either is recombinant or has been isolated free of total genomic nucleic acid. Included within the term “polynucleotide” are oligonucleotides (nucleic acids 100 residues or fewer in length), recombinant vectors, including, for example, plasmids, cosmids, phage, viruses, and the like. Polynucleotides include, in certain aspects, regulatory sequences, isolated substantially away from their naturally occurring genes or protein encoding sequences. Polynucleotides may be single-stranded (coding or antisense) or double-stranded, and may be RNA, DNA (genomic, cDNA or synthetic), analogs thereof, or a combination thereof. Additional coding or non-coding sequences may, but need not, be present within a polynucleotide.

In this respect, the term “gene,” “polynucleotide,” or “nucleic acid” is used to refer to a nucleic acid that encodes a protein, polypeptide, or peptide (including any sequences required for proper transcription, post-translational modification, or localization). As will be understood by those in the art, this term encompasses genomic sequences, expression cassettes, cDNA sequences, and smaller engineered nucleic acid segments that express, or may be adapted to express, proteins, polypeptides, domains, peptides, fusion proteins, and mutants. A nucleic acid encoding all or part of a polypeptide may contain a contiguous nucleic acid sequence encoding all or a portion of such a polypeptide. It also is contemplated that a particular polypeptide may be encoded by nucleic acids containing variations having slightly different nucleic acid sequences but, nonetheless, encode the same or substantially similar protein (see above).

In particular embodiments, there are isolated nucleic acid segments and recombinant vectors incorporating nucleic acid sequences that encode a polypeptide (e.g., an antibody or fragment thereof) that binds to DC receptors, such as CD40. The term “recombinant” may be used in conjunction with a polypeptide or the name of a specific polypeptide, and this generally refers to a polypeptide produced from a nucleic acid molecule that has been manipulated in vitro or that is a replication product of such a molecule.

The nucleic acid segments, regardless of the length of the coding sequence itself, may be combined with other nucleic acid sequences, such as promoters, polyadenylation signals, additional restriction enzyme sites, multiple cloning sites, other coding segments, and the like, such that their overall length may vary considerably. It is therefore contemplated that a nucleic acid fragment of almost any length may be employed, with the total length preferably being limited by the ease of preparation and use in the intended recombinant nucleic acid protocol. In some cases, a nucleic acid sequence may encode a polypeptide sequence with additional heterologous coding sequences, for example to allow for purification of the polypeptide, transport, secretion, post-translational modification, or for therapeutic benefits such as targeting or efficacy. As discussed above, a tag or other heterologous polypeptide may be added to the modified polypeptide-encoding sequence, wherein “heterologous” refers to a polypeptide that is not the same as the modified polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, there are polynucleotide variants having substantial identity to the sequences disclosed herein; those comprising at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% or higher sequence identity, including all values and ranges there between, compared to a polynucleotide sequence provided herein using the methods described herein (e.g., BLAST analysis using standard parameters). In certain aspects, the isolated polynucleotide will comprise a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that has at least 90%, preferably 95% and above, identity to an amino acid sequence described herein, over the entire length of the sequence; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.

A. Vectors

Polypeptides may be encoded by a nucleic acid molecule. The nucleic acid molecule can be in the form of a nucleic acid vector. The term “vector” is used to refer to a carrier nucleic acid molecule into which a heterologous nucleic acid sequence can be inserted for introduction into a cell where it can be replicated and expressed. A nucleic acid sequence can be “heterologous,” which means that it is in a context foreign to the cell in which the vector is being introduced or to the nucleic acid in which is incorporated, which includes a sequence homologous to a sequence in the cell or nucleic acid but in a position within the host cell or nucleic acid where it is ordinarily not found. Vectors include DNAs, RNAs, plasmids, cosmids, viruses (bacteriophage, animal viruses, and plant viruses), and artificial chromosomes (e.g., YACs). One of skill in the art would be well equipped to construct a vector through standard recombinant techniques (for example Sambrook et al., 2001; Ausubel et al., 1996, both incorporated herein by reference). Vectors may be used in a host cell to produce an antibody or fusion protein of the disclosure.

The term “expression vector” refers to a vector containing a nucleic acid sequence coding for at least part of a gene product capable of being transcribed. In some cases, RNA molecules are then translated into a protein, polypeptide, or peptide. Expression vectors can contain a variety of “control sequences,” which refer to nucleic acid sequences necessary for the transcription and possibly translation of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. In addition to control sequences that govern transcription and translation, vectors and expression vectors may contain nucleic acid sequences that serve other functions as well and are described herein.

B. Host Cells

As used herein, the terms “cell,” “cell line,” and “cell culture” may be used interchangeably. All of these terms also include their progeny, which is any and all subsequent generations. It is understood that all progeny may not be identical due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. In the context of expressing a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, “host cell” refers to a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell, and it includes any transformable organism that is capable of replicating a vector or expressing a heterologous gene encoded by a vector. A host cell can, and has been, used as a recipient for vectors or viruses. A host cell may be “transfected” or “transformed,” which refers to a process by which exogenous nucleic acid, such as a recombinant protein-encoding sequence, is transferred or introduced into the host cell. A transformed cell includes the primary subject cell and its progeny.

Some vectors may employ control sequences that allow it to be replicated and/or expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One of skill in the art would further understand the conditions under which to incubate all of the above described host cells to maintain them and to permit replication of a vector. Also understood and known are techniques and conditions that would allow large-scale production of vectors, as well as production of the nucleic acids encoded by vectors and their cognate polypeptides, proteins, or peptides.

In certain embodiments the host cell may be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. In some aspects the host cell is an animal cell. Exemplary host cells include A549, B-cells, B16, BHK-21, C2C12, C6, CaCo-2, CAP/, CAP-T, CHO, CHO2, CHO-DG44, CHO-K1, COS-1, Cos-7, CV-1, Dendritic cells, DLD-1, Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell or derivative, H1299, HEK, 293, 293T, 293FT, Hep G2, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, HOS, Huh-7, Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cell or derivative, Jurkat, K562, L5278Y, LNCaP, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MDCK, Mesenchymal Cells, Min-6, Monocytic cell, Neuro2a, NIH 3T3, NIH3T3L1, K562, NK-cells, NSO, Panc-1, PC12, PC-3, Peripheral blood cells, Plasma cells, Primary Fibroblasts, RBL, Renca, RLE, SF21, SF9, SH-SY5Y, SK-MES-1, SK-N-SH, SL3, SW403, Stimulus-triggered Acquisition of Pluripotency (STAP) cell or derivate SW403, T-cells, THP-1, Tumor cells, U2OS, U937, peripheral blood lymphocytes, expanded T cells, hematopoietic stem cells, or Vero cells.

In some embodiments, cells may be subjected to limiting dilution methods to enable the expansion of clonal populations of cells. The methods of limiting dilution cloning are well known to those of skill in the art. Such methods have been described, for example for hybridomas but can be applied to any cell. Such methods are described in (Cloning hybridoma cells by limiting dilution, Journal of tissue culture methods, 1985, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp 175-177, by Joan C. Rener, Bruce L. Brown, and Roland M. Nardone) which is incorporated by reference herein.

In other embodiments, media may be formulated using components well-known to those skilled in the art. Formulations and methods of culturing cells are described in detail in the following references: Short Protocols in Cell Biology J. Bonifacino, et al., ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2003, 826 pp; Live Cell Imaging: A Laboratory Manual D. Spector & R. Goldman, ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2004, 450 pp.; Stem Cells Handbook S. Sell, ed., Humana Press, 2003, 528 pp.; Animal Cell Culture: Essential Methods, John M. Davis, John Wiley & Sons, Mar. 16, 2011; Basic Cell Culture Protocols, Cheryl D. Helgason, Cindy Miller, Humana Press, 2005; Human Cell Culture Protocols, Series: Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 806, Mitry, Ragai R.; Hughes, Robin D. (Eds.), 3rd ed. 2012, XIV, 435 p. 89, Humana Press; Cancer Cell Culture: Method and Protocols, Cheryl D. Helgason, Cindy Miller, Humana Press, 2005; Human Cell Culture Protocols, Series: Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 806, Mitry, Ragai R.; Hughes, Robin D. (Eds.), 3rd ed. 2012, XIV, 435 p. 89, Humana Press; Cancer Cell Culture: Method and Protocols, Simon P. Langdon, Springer, 2004; Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition, Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky S L, et al., New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000, Section 6.2 Growth of Animal Cells in Culture, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

C. Expression Systems

Numerous expression systems exist that comprise at least a part or all of the compositions discussed above. Prokaryote- and/or eukaryote-based systems can be employed for use with an embodiment to produce nucleic acid sequences, or their cognate polypeptides, proteins and peptides. Many such systems are commercially and widely available.

The insect cell/baculovirus system can produce a high level of protein expression of a heterologous nucleic acid segment, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,871,986, 4,879,236, both herein incorporated by reference, and which can be bought, for example, under the name MAXBAC® 2.0 from INVITROGEN® and BACPACK™ BACULOVIRUS EXPRESSION SYSTEM FROM CLONTECH®.

In addition to the disclosed expression systems, other examples of expression systems include STRATAGENE®'s COMPLETE CONTROL Inducible Mammalian Expression System, which involves a synthetic ecdysone-inducible receptor, or its pET Expression System, an E. coli expression system. Another example of an inducible expression system is available from INVITROGEN®, which carries the T-REX™ (tetracycline-regulated expression) System, an inducible mammalian expression system that uses the full-length CMV promoter. INVITROGEN® also provides a yeast expression system called the Pichia methanolica Expression System, which is designed for high-level production of recombinant proteins in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia methanolica. One of skill in the art would know how to express a vector, such as an expression construct, to produce a nucleic acid sequence or its cognate polypeptide, protein, or peptide.

II. Proteinaceous Compositions

Substitutional variants typically contain the exchange of one amino acid for another at one or more sites within the protein, and may be designed to modulate one or more properties of the polypeptide, with or without the loss of other functions or properties. Substitutions may be conservative, that is, one amino acid is replaced with one of similar shape and charge. Conservative substitutions are well known in the art and include, for example, the changes of: alanine to serine; arginine to lysine; asparagine to glutamine or histidine; aspartate to glutamate; cysteine to serine; glutamine to asparagine; glutamate to aspartate; glycine to proline; histidine to asparagine or glutamine; isoleucine to leucine or valine; leucine to valine or isoleucine; lysine to arginine; methionine to leucine or isoleucine; phenylalanine to tyrosine, leucine or methionine; serine to threonine; threonine to serine; tryptophan to tyrosine; tyrosine to tryptophan or phenylalanine; and valine to isoleucine or leucine. Alternatively, substitutions may be non-conservative such that a function or activity of the polypeptide is affected. Non-conservative changes typically involve substituting a residue with one that is chemically dissimilar, such as a polar or charged amino acid for a nonpolar or uncharged amino acid, and vice versa.

Proteins may be recombinant, or synthesized in vitro. Alternatively, a non-recombinant or recombinant protein may be isolated from bacteria. It is also contemplated that a bacteria containing such a variant may be implemented in compositions and methods. Consequently, a protein need not be isolated.

The term “functionally equivalent codon” is used herein to refer to codons that encode the same amino acid, such as the six codons for arginine or serine, and also refers to codons that encode biologically equivalent amino acids (see Table, below).

Codon Table Amino Acids Codons Alanine Ala A GCA GCC GCG GCU Cysteine Cys C UGC UGU Aspartic acid Asp D GAC GAU Glutamic acid Glu E GAA GAG Phenylalanine Phe F UUC UUU Glycine Gly G GGA GGC GGG GGU Histidine His H CAC CAU Isoleucine Ile I AUA AUC AUU Lysine Lys K AAA AAG Leucine Leu L UUA UUG CUA CUC CUG CUU Methionine Met M AUG Asparagine Asn N AAC AAU Proline Pro P CCA CCC CCG CCU Glutamine Gln Q CAA CAG Arginine Arg R AGA AGG CGA CGC CGG CGU Serine Ser S AGC AGU UCA UCC UCG UCU Threonine Thr T ACA ACC ACG ACU Valine Val V GUA GUC GUG GUU Tryptophan Trp W UGG Tyrosine Tyr Y UAC UAU

It also will be understood that amino acid and nucleic acid sequences may include additional residues, such as additional N- or C-terminal amino acids, or 5′ or 3′ sequences, respectively, and yet still be essentially as set forth in one of the sequences disclosed herein, so long as the sequence meets the criteria set forth above, including the maintenance of biological protein activity where protein expression is concerned. The addition of terminal sequences particularly applies to nucleic acid sequences that may, for example, include various non-coding sequences flanking either of the 5′ or 3′ portions of the coding region.

The following is a discussion based upon changing of the amino acids of a protein to create an equivalent, or even an improved, second or further-generation molecule. For example, certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids in a protein structure without appreciable loss of interactive binding capacity with structures such as, for example, antigen-binding regions of antibodies or binding sites on substrate molecules. Since it is the interactive capacity and nature of a protein that defines that protein's biological functional activity, certain amino acid substitutions can be made in a protein sequence, and in its underlying DNA coding sequence, and nevertheless produce a protein with like properties. It is thus contemplated by the inventors that various changes may be made in the DNA sequences of genes without appreciable loss of their biological utility or activity.

In making such changes, the hydropathic index of amino acids may be considered. The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biologic function on a protein is generally understood in the art (Kyte and Doolittle, 1982). It is accepted that the relative hydropathic character of the amino acid contributes to the secondary structure of the resultant protein, which in turn defines the interaction of the protein with other molecules, for example, enzymes, substrates, receptors, DNA, antibodies, antigens, and the like.

It also is understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, incorporated herein by reference, states that the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with a biological property of the protein. It is understood that an amino acid can be substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value and still produce a biologically equivalent and immunologically equivalent protein.

As outlined above, amino acid substitutions generally are based on the relative similarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents, for example, their hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, size, and the like. Exemplary substitutions that take into consideration the various foregoing characteristics are well known and include: arginine and lysine; glutamate and aspartate; serine and threonine; glutamine and asparagine; and valine, leucine and isoleucine.

It is contemplated that in compositions there is between about 0.001 mg and about 10 mg of total polypeptide, peptide, and/or protein per ml. Thus, the concentration of protein in a composition can be about, at least about or at most about 0.001, 0.010, 0.050, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0 mg/ml or more (or any range derivable therein).

A. Polypeptides and Polypeptide Production

Embodiments involve polypeptides, peptides, and proteins and immunogenic fragments thereof for use in various aspects described herein. For example, specific antibodies are assayed for or used in binding to DC receptors, such as CD40, and presenting HIV antigens. In specific embodiments, all or part of proteins described herein can also be synthesized in solution or on a solid support in accordance with conventional techniques. Various automatic synthesizers are commercially available and can be used in accordance with known protocols. See, for example, Stewart and Young, (1984); Tam et al., (1983); Merrifield, (1986); and Barany and Merrifield (1979), each incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, recombinant DNA technology may be employed wherein a nucleotide sequence that encodes a peptide or polypeptide is inserted into an expression vector, transformed or transfected into an appropriate host cell and cultivated under conditions suitable for expression.

One embodiment includes the use of gene transfer to cells, including microorganisms, for the production and/or presentation of proteins. The gene for the protein of interest may be transferred into appropriate host cells followed by culture of cells under the appropriate conditions. A nucleic acid encoding virtually any polypeptide may be employed. The generation of recombinant expression vectors, and the elements included therein, are discussed herein. Alternatively, the protein to be produced may be an endogenous protein normally synthesized by the cell used for protein production.

In a certain aspects a DC receptor fragment comprises substantially all of the extracellular domain of a protein which has at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, at least 95% identity, or at least 97-99% identity, including all values and ranges there between, to a sequence selected over the length of the fragment sequence.

Also included in immunogenic compositions are fusion proteins composed of HIV antigens, or immunogenic fragments of HIV antigens (e.g., gp140). HIV antigens may be from any type (e.g. HIV-1, HIV-2), group (e.g. group M, group N, group O, or group P), sub-type or clade (e.g. clade A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K) or circulating recombinant form of HIV. Alternatively, embodiments also include individual fusion proteins of HIV proteins or immunogenic fragments thereof, as a fusion protein with heterologous sequences such as a provider of T-cell epitopes or purification tags, for example: β-galactosidase, glutathione-S-transferase, green fluorescent proteins (GFP), epitope tags such as FLAG, myc tag, poly histidine, or viral surface proteins such as influenza virus haemagglutinin, or bacterial proteins such as tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, CRM197.

B. Antibodies and Antibody-Like Molecules

In certain aspects, one or more antibodies or antibody-like molecules (e.g., polypeptides comprising antibody CDR domains) may be obtained or produced which have a specificity for Dendritic cell receptor, e.g. CD40, LOX-1, DCIR or langerin. These antibodies may be used in the therapeutic applications described herein.

The term “antibody” refers to an intact immunoglobulin of any isotype, or a fragment thereof, that can complete with the intact antibody for specific binding to the target antigen, and includes chimeric, humanized, fully human, and bispecific antibodies. An intact antibody generally will comprise at least two full-length heavy chains and two full-length light chains, but in some instances may include fewer chains such as antibodies naturally occurring in camelids which may comprise only heavy chains. Antibodies according to the disclosure may be derived solely from a single source, or may be “chimeric,” that is, different portions of the antibody may be derived from two different antibodies. For example, the CDR regions may be derived from a rat or murine source, while the framework region of the V region is derived from a different animal source, such as a human. The antibodies or binding fragments of the disclosure may be produced in hybridomas, by recombinant DNA techniques, or by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of intact antibodies. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “antibody” includes, in addition to antibodies comprising two full-length heavy chains and two full-length light chains, derivatives, variants, fragments, and muteins thereof, examples of which are described below.

The term “light chain” includes a full-length light chain and fragments thereof having sufficient variable region sequence to confer binding specificity. A full-length light chain includes a variable region domain (VL), and a constant region domain (CL). The variable region domain of the light chain is at the amino-terminus of the polypeptide. Light chains according to the disclosure include kappa chains and lambda chains.

The term “heavy chain” includes a full-length heavy chain and fragments thereof having sufficient variable region sequence to confer binding specificity. A full-length heavy chain includes a variable region domain (VH), and three constant region domains (CH1, CH2, and CH3). The VH domain is at the amino-terminus of the polypeptide, and the CH domains are at the carboxy-terminus, with the CH3 being closest to the —COOH end. Heavy chains according to the invention may be of any isotype, including IgG (including IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subtypes), IgA (including IgA1 and IgA2 subtypes), IgM, and IgE.

The VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability, termed “complementarity determining regions” or “CDR”, interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed framework regions (FR). Each VH and VL is composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged from amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4. The variable regions of the heavy and light chains contain a binding domain that interacts with an antigen. The constant regions of the antibodies may mediate the binding of the immunoglobulin to host tissues or factors, including various cells of the immune system (e.g., effector cells) and the first component (C1q) of the classical complement system. An amino acid sequence which is substantially the same as a heavy or light chain CDR exhibits a considerable amount or extent of sequence identity when compared to a reference sequence and contributes favorably to specific binding of an antigen bound specifically by an antibody having the reference sequence. Such identity is definitively known or recognizable as representing the amino acid sequence of the particular human monoclonal antibody. Substantially the same heavy and light chain CDR amino acid sequence can have, for example, minor modifications or conservative substitutions of amino acids so long as the ability to bind a particular antigen is maintained.

The term “CDR” or “complementarity determining region” means the non-contiguous antigen combining sites found within the variable region of both heavy and light chain polypeptides. This particular region has been described by Kabat et al., U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest” (1983) and by Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987) and additionally by MacCallum et al., J. Mol. Biol. 262:732-745 (1996), which are incorporated herein by reference, where the definitions include overlapping or subsets of amino acid residues when compared against each other. Nevertheless, application of either definition to refer to a CDR of an antibody or functional fragment thereof is intended to be within the scope of the term as defined and used herein. The exact amino acid residue numbers which encompass a particular CDR will vary depending on the structure of the CDR. Those skilled in the art can routinely determine which residues comprise a particular CDR given the variable region amino acid sequence of the antibody. Those skilled in the art can compare two or more antibody sequences by defining regions or individual amino acid positions of the respective sequences with the same CDR definition.

The term “antibody” includes both glycosylated and non-glycosylated immunoglobulins of any isotype or subclass or combination thereof, including human (including CDR-grafted antibodies), humanized, chimeric, multi-specific, monoclonal, polyclonal, and oligomers thereof, irrespective of whether such antibodies are produced, in whole or in part, via immunization, through recombinant technology, by way of in vitro synthetic means, or otherwise. Thus, the term “antibody” includes those that are prepared, expressed, created or isolated by recombinant means, such as (a) antibodies isolated from an animal (e.g., a mouse) that is transgenic for human immunoglobulin genes or a hybridoma prepared therefrom, (b) antibodies isolated from a host cell transfected to express the antibody, (c) antibodies isolated from a recombinant, combinatorial library, and (d) antibodies prepared, expressed, created or isolated by any other means that involve splicing of immunoglobulin gene sequences of two distinct species of animals. In certain embodiments, however, such antibodies can be subjected to in vitro mutagenesis (or, when an animal transgenic for human immunoglobulin sequences is used, in vivo somatic mutagenesis) and thus the amino acid sequences of the VH and VL regions of the antibodies are sequences that, while derived from and related to the germline VH and VL sequences of a particular species (e.g., human), may not naturally exist within that species' antibody germline repertoire in vivo.

The term “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody means one or more fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to an antigen that is specifically bound by a reference antibody, as disclosed herein. An “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody may include, for example, polypeptides comprising individual heavy or light chains and fragments thereof, such as VL, VH, and Fd regions (consisting of the VH and CH1 domains); monovalent fragments, such as Fv, Fab, and Fab′ regions; bivalent fragments, such as F(ab′)2; single chain antibodies, such as single chain Fv (scFv) regions; Fc fragments; diabodies; maxibodies (bivalent scFv fused to the amino terminus of the Fc (CH2-CH3 domains)) and complementary determining region (CDR) domains. Such terms are described, for example, in Harlow and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N Y (1989); Molec. Biology and Biotechnology: A Comprehensive Desk Reference (Myers, R. A. (ed.), New York: VCH Publisher, Inc.); Huston et al., Cell Biophysics, 22:189-224 (1993); Pluckthun and Skerra, Meth. Enzymol., 178:497-515 (1989) and in Day, E. D., Advanced Immunochemistry, 2d ed., Wiley-Liss, Inc. New York, N.Y. (1990), which are incorporated herein by reference.

The term “antigen-binding fragment” also includes, for example, fragments produced by protease digestion or reduction of a human monoclonal antibody and by recombinant DNA methods known to those skilled in the art. One skilled in the art knows that the exact boundaries of a fragment of a human monoclonal antibody can be variable, so long as the fragment maintains a functional activity. Using well-known recombinant methods, one skilled in the art can engineer a nucleic acid to express a functional fragment with any endpoints desired for a particular application. Furthermore, although the two domains of the Fv fragment, VL and VH, are coded for by separate genes, they can be joined, using recombinant methods, by a synthetic linker that enables them to be made as a single protein chain in which the VL and VH regions pair to form monovalent molecules (known as single chain Fv (scFv); see e.g., Bird et al., Science 242:423-426 (1988); and Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988). Such single chain antibodies are also intended to be encompassed within the term “antigen-binding fragment” of an antibody. These antibody fragments are obtained using conventional techniques known to those with skill in the art, and the fragments are screened for utility in the same manner as are intact antibodies. Such fragments include those obtained by amino-terminal and/or carboxy-terminal deletions, but where the remaining amino acid sequence is substantially identical to the corresponding positions in the naturally-occurring sequence deduced, for example, from a full-length cDNA sequence. Antigen-binding fragments also include fragments of an antibody which retain at least one (e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more) light chain sequences for a particular complementarity determining region (CDR) (e.g., at least one or more of CDR1, CDR2, and/or CDR3 from the heavy and/or light chain). Fusions of CDR containing sequences to an Fc region (or a CH2 or CH3 region thereof) are included within the scope of this definition including, for example, scFv fused, directly or indirectly, to an Fc region are included herein. An antigen-binding fragment is inclusive of, but not limited to, those derived from an antibody or fragment thereof (e.g., by enzymatic digestion or reduction of disulfide bonds), produced synthetically using recombinant methods, created via in vitro synthetic means (e.g., Merrifield resins), combinations thereof, or through other methods. Antigen-binding fragments may also comprise multiple fragments, such as CDR fragments, linked together synthetically, chemically, or otherwise, in the form of oligomers. Thus, antigen-binding fragments of the present invention include polypeptides produced by any number of methods which comprise at least one CDR from a VH or VL chain of the present invention (e.g., derived from monoclonal antibodies 480.12 and 994.1).

The term “VL fragment” means a fragment of the light chain of a monoclonal antibody which includes all or part of the light chain variable region, including the CDRs. A VL fragment can further include light chain constant region sequences.

The term “VH fragment” means a fragment of the heavy chain of a monoclonal antibody which includes all or part of the heavy chain variable region, including the CDRs. A VH fragment can further include heavy chain constant region sequences.

The term “Fd fragment” means a fragment of the heavy chain of a monoclonal antibody which includes all or part of the VH heavy chain variable region, including the CDRs. An Fd fragment can further include CH1 heavy chain constant region sequences.

An “Fc” region contains two heavy chain fragments comprising the CH1 and CH2 domains of an antibody. The two heavy chain fragments are held together by two or more disulfide bonds and by hydrophobic interactions of the CH3 domain.

The term “Fv fragment” means a monovalent antigen-binding fragment of a monoclonal antibody, including all or part of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains, and absent of the constant regions of the heavy and light chains. The variable regions of the heavy and light chains include, for example, the CDRs.

The term “Fab fragment” means a monovalent antigen-binding fragment of an antibody consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains, which is larger than an Fv fragment. For example, a Fab fragment includes the variable regions, and all or part of the first constant domain of the heavy and light chains.

The term “Fab′ fragment” means a monovalent antigen-binding fragment of a monoclonal antibody that is larger than a Fab fragment. For example, a Fab′ fragment includes all of the light chain, all of the variable region of the heavy chain, and all or part of the first and second constant domains of the heavy chain.

The term “F(ab′)₂ fragment” means a bivalent antigen-binding fragment of a monoclonal antibody comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region. An F(ab′)₂ fragment includes, for example, all or part of the variable regions of two heavy chains and two light chains, and can further include all or part of the first constant domains of two heavy chains and two light chains.

“Single-chain antibodies” are Fv molecules in which the heavy and light chain variable regions have been connected by a flexible linker to form a single polypeptide chain, which forms an antigen-binding fragment. Single chain antibodies are discussed in detail in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 88/01649 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,778 and 5,260,203, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

A “domain antibody” is an antigen-binding fragment containing only the variable region of a heavy chain or the variable region of a light chain. In some instances, two or more VH regions are covalently joined with a peptide linker to create a bivalent domain antibody. The two VH regions of a bivalent domain antibody may target the same or different antigens.

The term “bivalent antibody” means an antibody that comprises two antigen binding sites. In some instances, the two binding sites have the same antigen specificities. However, bivalent antibodies may be bispecific.

The term “bispecific antibody” means an antibody that binds to two or more distinct epitopes. For example, the antibody may bind to, or interact with, (a) a cell surface antigen and (b) an Fc receptor on the surface of an effector cell. The term “multispecific antibody” or “heterospecific antibody” means an antibody that binds to more than two distinct epitopes. For example, the antibody may bind to, or interact with, (a) a cell surface antigen, (b) an Fc receptor on the surface of an effector cell, and (c) at least one other component. Accordingly, the invention includes, but is not limited to, bispecific, trispecific, tetraspecific, and other multispecific antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof which are directed to certain epitopes and to other targets, such as Fc receptors on effector cells. Bispecific antibodies are a species of multispecific antibody and may be produced by a variety of methods including, but not limited to, fusion of hybridomas or linking of Fab′ fragments. See, e.g., Songsivilai and Lachmann, Clin. Exp. Immunol. 79:315 (1990); Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148:1547 (1992). The two binding sites of a bispecific antibody will bind to two different epitopes, which may reside on the same or different protein targets. The term “bispecific antibodies” also includes diabodies. Diabodies are bivalent, bispecific antibodies in which the VH and VL domains are expressed on a single polypeptide chain, but using a linker that is too short to allow for pairing between the two domains on the same chain, thereby forcing the domains to pair with complementary domains of another chain and creating two antigen binding sites (see e.g., Hollinger et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:6444-6448 (1993); Polijak et al., Structure 2:1121-1123 (1994).

The term “monoclonal antibody” or “mAb,” as used herein, refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, e.g., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations that typically include different antibodies against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. The term is not limited regarding the species or source of the antibody, nor is it intended to be limited by the manner in which it is made. The term encompasses whole immunoglobulins as well as fragments such as Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fv, and other fragments, as well as chimeric and humanized homogeneous antibody populations, that exhibit immunological binding properties of the parent monoclonal antibody molecule.

The term “mouse monoclonal antibody” means a monoclonal antibody, as defined above, produced by immunizing a mouse, with an antigen of interest. A “mouse monoclonal antibody” is produced using conventional methods well known in the art, from mouse-mouse hybridomas, described more fully below.

The term “rabbit monoclonal antibody” as used herein means a monoclonal antibody, as defined above, produced by immunizing a rabbit with an antigen of interest. A “rabbit monoclonal antibody” can be produced using rabbit-rabbit hybridomas (e.g., fusions between an antibody-producing cell from the immunized rabbit with an immortalized cell from a rabbit), rabbit-mouse hybridomas (e.g., fusions between an antibody-producing cell from the immunized rabbit with an immortalized cell from a mouse), and the like.

The term “human monoclonal antibody” means a monoclonal antibody with substantially human CDR amino acid sequences produced, for example, by recombinant methods, by lymphocytes or by hybridoma cells.

The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include “chimeric” antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6851 (1984).

“Humanized” forms of non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. For the most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a hypervariable region of the recipient are replaced by residues from a hypervariable region of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit, or nonhuman primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity. In some instances, framework region (FR) residues of the immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications are made to further refine antibody performance. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FRs are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody optionally will also comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. See, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321:522 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988); Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593 (1992); Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma and Immunol. 1:105 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23; 1035 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5:428 (1994).

A “human antibody” is one which possesses an amino acid sequence which corresponds to that of an antibody produced by a human and/or has been made using any of the techniques for making human antibodies as disclosed herein. This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody comprising non-human antigen-binding regions.

An “affinity matured” antibody is one with one or more alterations in one or more CDRs thereof which result in an improvement in the affinity of the antibody for antigen, compared to a parent antibody which does not possess those alteration(s). Preferred affinity matured antibodies will have nanomolar or even picomolar affinities for the target antigen. Affinity matured antibodies are produced by procedures known in the art. Marks et al., Bio/Technology 10:779 (1992) describes affinity maturation by VH and VL domain shuffling. Random mutagenesis of CDR and/or framework residues is described by: Barbas et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:3809 (1994); Schier et al., Gene 169:147 (1995); Yelton et al., J. Immunol. 155:1994 (1995); Jackson et al., J. Immunol. 154:3310 (1995); and Hawkins et al., J. Mol. Biol. 226:889 (1992).

The term “antigen” refers to a molecule or a portion of a molecule capable of being bound by a selective binding agent, such as an antibody, and additionally capable of being used in an animal to produce antibodies capable of binding to that antigen. An antigen may possess one or more epitopes that are capable of interacting with different antibodies.

The term “epitope” includes any determinant capable of binding with high affinity to an immunoglobulin or to a T-cell receptor. An epitope is a region of an antigen that is bound by an antibody that specifically targets that antigen, and when the antigen is a protein, includes specific amino acids that directly contact the antibody. Most often, epitopes reside on proteins, but in some instances, may reside on other kinds of molecules, such as nucleic acids. Epitope determinants may include chemically active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids, sugar side chains, phosphoryl or sulfonyl groups, and may have specific three dimensional structural characteristics, and/or specific charge characteristics. Generally, antibodies specific for a particular target antigen will preferentially recognize an epitope on the target antigen in a complex mixture of proteins and/or macromolecules.

Regions of a given polypeptide that include an epitope can be identified using any number of epitope mapping techniques, well known in the art. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 66 (Glenn E. Morris, Ed., 1996) Humana Press, Totowa, N.J. For example, linear epitopes may be determined by e.g., concurrently synthesizing large numbers of peptides on solid supports, the peptides corresponding to portions of the protein molecule, and reacting the peptides with antibodies while the peptides are still attached to the supports. Such techniques are known in the art and described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,871; Geysen et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002 (1984); Geysen et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:178-182 (1985); Geysen et al. Molec. Immunol. 23:709-715 (1986). Similarly, conformational epitopes are readily identified by determining spatial conformation of amino acids such as by, e.g., x-ray crystallography and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols, supra. Antigenic regions of proteins can also be identified using standard antigenicity and hydropathy plots, such as those calculated using, e.g., the Omiga version 1.0 software program available from the Oxford Molecular Group. This computer program employs the Hopp/Woods method, Hopp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:3824-3828 (1981) for determining antigenicity profiles, and the Kyte-Doolittle technique, Kyte et al., J. Mol. Biol. 157:105-132 (1982) for hydropathy plots.

An antibody of the disclosure is said to “specifically bind” its target antigen when the dissociation constant (K_(D)) is ≤10⁻⁸ M. The antibody specifically binds antigen with “high affinity” when the K_(D) is ≤5×10⁻⁹ M, and with “very high affinity” when the K_(D) is ≤5×10⁻¹° M. In one embodiment of the invention, the antibody has a K_(D) of ≤10⁻⁹ M and an off-rate (K_(D)) of about 1×10⁻⁴/sec. In one embodiment of the invention, the off-rate is ≤1×10⁻⁵/sec.

It is understood that the antibodies of the present disclosure may be modified, such that they are substantially identical to the antibody polypeptide sequences, or fragments thereof, and still bind the epitopes of the disclosure. Polypeptide sequences are “substantially identical” when optimally aligned using such programs as GAP or BESTFIT using default gap weights, they share at least 80% sequence identity, at least 90% sequence identity, at least 95% sequence identity, at least 96% sequence identity, at least 97% sequence identity, at least 98% sequence identity, or at least 99% sequence identity.

As discussed herein, minor variations in the amino acid sequences of antibodies or antigen-binding regions thereof are contemplated as being encompassed by the present disclosure, providing that the variations in the amino acid sequence maintain at least 75%, more preferably at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% and most preferably at least 99% sequence identity. In particular, conservative amino acid replacements are contemplated. Conservative replacements are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids are generally divided into families: (1) acidic (aspartate, glutamate); (2) basic (lysine, arginine, histidine); (3) nonpolar (alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan); and (4) uncharged polar (glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine). More preferred families are: (1) aliphatic-hydroxy (serine, threonine); (2) amide-containing (asparagine, glutamine); (3) aliphatic (alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine); and (4) aromatic (phenylalanine, tryptophan). For example, it is reasonable to expect that an isolated replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid will not have a major effect on the binding or properties of the resulting molecule, especially if the replacement does not involve an amino acid within a framework site. Whether an amino acid change results in a functional peptide can readily be determined by assaying the specific activity of the polypeptide derivative. Assays are described in detail herein. Fragments or analogs of antibodies or immunoglobulin molecules can be readily prepared by those of ordinary skill in the art. Preferred amino- and carboxy-termini of fragments or analogs occur near boundaries of functional domains. Structural and functional domains can be identified by comparison of the nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence data to public or proprietary sequence databases. Preferably, computerized comparison methods are used to identify sequence motifs or predicted protein conformation domains that occur in other proteins of known structure and/or function. Methods to identify protein sequences that fold into a known three-dimensional structure are known. Bowie et al., Science 253:164 (1991).

The antibodies of the present disclosure may also be generated using peptide analogs of the epitopic determinants disclosed herein, which analogs may consist of non-peptide compounds having properties analogous to those of the template peptide. These types of non-peptide compound are termed “peptide mimetics” or “peptidomimetics”. Fauchere, J. Adv. Drug Res. 15:29 (1986); Veber and Freidinger TINS p. 392 (1985); and Evans et al., J. Med. Chem. 30:1229 (1987).

“Mini-antibodies” or “minibodies” are also contemplated for use with embodiments. Minibodies are sFv polypeptide chains which include oligomerization domains at their C-termini, separated from the sFv by a hinge region (Pack, et al., 1992). The oligomerization domain comprises self-associating α-helices, e.g., leucine zippers, that can be further stabilized by additional disulfide bonds. The oligomerization domain is designed to be compatible with vectorial folding across a membrane, a process thought to facilitate in vivo folding of the polypeptide into a functional binding protein. Generally, minibodies are produced using recombinant methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Pack et al. (1992); Cumber et al. (1992).

Antibody-like binding peptidomimetics are also contemplated in embodiments. Liu et al., 2003 describe “antibody like binding peptidomimetics” (ABiPs), which are peptides that act as pared-down antibodies and have certain advantages of longer serum half-life as well as less cumbersome synthesis methods.

Alternative scaffolds for antigen binding peptides, such as CDRs are also available and can be used to generate DC receptor-binding molecules in accordance with the embodiments. Generally, a person skilled in the art knows how to determine the type of protein scaffold on which to graft at least one of the CDRs arising from the original antibody. More particularly, it is known that to be selected such scaffolds must meet the greatest number of criteria as follows (Skerra, 2000): good phylogenetic conservation; known three-dimensional structure (as, for example, by crystallography, NMR spectroscopy or any other technique known to a person skilled in the art); small size; few or no post-transcriptional modifications; and/or easy to produce, express and purify.

The origin of such protein scaffolds can be, but is not limited to, the structures selected among: fibronectin and preferentially fibronectin type III domain 10, lipocalin, anticalin (Skerra, 2001), protein Z arising from domain B of protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, thioredoxin A or proteins with a repeated motif such as the “ankyrin repeat” (Kohl et al., 2003), the “armadillo repeat”, the “leucine-rich repeat” and the “tetratricopeptide repeat”. For example, anticalins or lipocalin derivatives are a type of binding proteins that have affinities and specificities for various target molecules and can be used as DC receptor-binding molecules. Such proteins are described in US Patent Publication Nos. 20100285564, 20060058510, 20060088908, 20050106660, and PCT Publication No. WO2006/056464, incorporated herein by reference.

Scaffolds derived from toxins such as, for example, toxins from scorpions, insects, plants, mollusks, etc., and the protein inhibiters of neuronal NO synthase (PIN) may also be used in certain aspects.

Chimeric and humanized antibodies based upon the foregoing sequences are also encompassed by the current disclosure. Monoclonal antibodies for use as therapeutic agents may be modified in various ways prior to use. One example is a “chimeric” antibody, which is an antibody composed of protein segments from different antibodies that are covalently joined to produce functional immunoglobulin light or heavy chains or antigen-binding fragments thereof. Generally, a portion of the heavy chain and/or light chain is identical with, or homologous to, a corresponding sequence in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is/are identical or homologous to a corresponding sequence in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass. For methods relating to chimeric antibodies, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6851-6855 (1985), which are hereby incorporated by reference. CDR grafting is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,180,370, 5,693,762, 5,693,761, 5,585,089, and 5,530,101, which are all hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Generally, the goal of making a chimeric antibody is to create a chimera in which the number of amino acids from the intended patent species is maximized. One example is the “CDR-grafted” antibody, in which the antibody comprises one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the antibody chain(s) is/are identical with or homologous to a corresponding sequence in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass. For use in humans, the V region or selected CDRs from a rodent antibody often are grafted into a human antibody, replacing the naturally-occurring V regions or CDRs of the human antibody.

One useful type of chimeric antibody is a “humanized” antibody. Generally, a humanized antibody is produced from a monoclonal antibody raised initially in a non-human animal. Certain amino acid residues in this monoclonal antibody, typically from non-antigen recognizing portions of the antibody, are modified to be homologous to corresponding residues in a human antibody or corresponding isotype. Preferably, humanized antibodies contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin sequences. For the most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a hypervariable region of the recipient are replaced by residues from a hypervariable region of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, rabbit or nonhuman primate having the desired specificity, affinity, and capacity. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539; 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762; 5,859,205. In some instances, framework residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762). Furthermore, humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. These modifications are made to further refine antibody performance (e.g., to obtain desired affinity). In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the framework regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. For further details see Jones et al., Nature 331:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593-596 (1992); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239:1534-36 (1988)).

In one aspect of the disclosure, the CDRs of the light and heavy chain variable regions of the antibodies provided herein are grafted to framework regions (FRs) from antibodies from the same, or a different, phylogenetic species. To create consensus human FRs, FRs from several human heavy chain or light chain amino acid sequences may be aligned to identify a consensus amino acid sequence. In one aspect of the invention, rare amino acids in the FRs of the heavy and light chains of the antibody are not replaced, while the rest of the FR amino acids are replaced. A “rare amino acid” is a specific amino acid that is in a position in which this particular amino acid is not usually found in an FR. Alternatively, the grafted variable regions from the antibody may be used with a constant region that is different from the constant region of antibody. In other embodiments of the disclosure, the grafted variable regions are part of a single chain Fv antibody.

In certain embodiments, constant regions from species other than human can be used along with the human variable region(s) to produce hybrid antibodies.

Also encompassed are xenogeneic or modified antibodies produced in a non-human mammalian host, more particularly a transgenic mouse, characterized by inactivated endogenous immunoglobulin (Ig) loci. In such transgenic animals, competent endogenous genes for the expression of light and heavy subunits of host immunoglobulins are rendered non-functional and substituted with the analogous human immunoglobulin loci. These transgenic animals produce human antibodies in the substantial absence of light or heavy host immunoglobulin subunits. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598.

Fully human antibodies are also provided. Methods are available for making fully human antibodies specific for a given antigen without exposing human beings to the antigen (“fully human antibodies”). One means for implementing the production of fully human antibodies is the “humanization” of the mouse humoral immune system. Introduction of human immunoglobulin (Ig) loci into mice in which the endogenous Ig genes have been inactivated is one means of producing fully human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in mouse, an animal that can be immunized with any desirable antigen. Using fully human antibodies can minimize the immunogenic and allergic responses that can sometimes be caused by administering mouse or mouse-derivatized mAbs to humans as therapeutic agents.

In one embodiment, human antibodies may be produced in a non-human transgenic animal, e.g., a transgenic mouse capable of producing multiple isotypes of human antibodies to CD40 (e.g., IgG, IgA, and/or IgE) by undergoing V-D-J recombination and isotype switching. Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure include not only antibodies, antibody fragments, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, but also non-human transgenic animals, B-cells, host cells, and hybridomas which produce the antibodies. The present disclosure further encompasses pharmaceutical preparations containing the antibodies, and methods of treating physiological disorders, e.g., HIV, by administering the antibodies of the present disclosure.

Fully human antibodies can be produced by immunizing transgenic animals (usually mice) that are capable of producing a repertoire of human antibodies in the absence of endogenous immunoglobulin production. Antigens for this purpose typically have six or more contiguous amino acids, and optionally are conjugated to a carrier, such as a hapten. See, for example, Jakobovits et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:2551-2555 (1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature 362:255-258 (1993); Bruggermann et al., Year in Immunol. 7:33 (1993). In one example of such a method, transgenic animals are produced by incapacitating the endogenous mouse immunoglobulin loci encoding the mouse heavy and light immunoglobulin chains therein, and inserting into the mouse genome large fragments of human genome DNA containing loci that encode human heavy and light chain proteins. Partially modified animals, which have less than the full complement of human immunoglobulin loci, are then cross-bred to obtain an animal having all of the desired immune system modifications. When administered an immunogen, these transgenic animals produce antibodies that are immunospecific for the immunogen but have human rather than murine amino acid sequences, including the variable regions. For further details of such methods, see, for example, International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 96/33735 and WO 94/02602, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Additional methods relating to transgenic mice for making human antibodies are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 6,713,610; 6,673,986; 6,162,963; 6,300,129; 6,255,458; 5,877,397; 5,874,299 and 5,545,806; in International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 91/10741 and WO 90/04036; and in European Patent Nos. EP 546073B1 and EP 546073A1, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

The transgenic mice described above, referred to herein as “HuMAb” mice, contain a human immunoglobulin gene minilocus that encodes unrearranged human heavy (μ and γ) and κ light chain immunoglobulin sequences, together with targeted mutations that inactivate the endogenous μ and κ chain loci (Lonberg et al., Nature 368:856-859 (1994)). Accordingly, the mice exhibit reduced expression of mouse IgM or κ chains and in response to immunization, the introduced human heavy and light chain transgenes undergo class switching and somatic mutation to generate high affinity human IgG kappa monoclonal antibodies (Lonberg et al., supra; Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Ref. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995); Harding and Lonberg, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 764:536-546 (1995)). The preparation of HuMAb mice is described in detail in Taylor et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 20:6287-6295 (1992); Chen et al., Int. Immunol. 5:647-656 (1993); Tuaillon et al., J. Immunol. 152:2912-2920 (1994); Lonberg et al., supra; Lonberg, Handbook of Exp. Pharmacol. 113:49-101 (1994); Taylor et al., Int. Immunol. 6:579-591 (1994); Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Ref. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995); Harding and Lonberg, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 764:536-546 (1995); Fishwild et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 14:845-851 (1996); the foregoing references are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. See further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,789,650; 5,877,397; 5,661,016; 5,814,318; 5,874,299; 5,770,429; and 5,545,807; as well as International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 93/1227; WO 92/22646; and WO 92/03918, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Technologies utilized for producing human antibodies in these transgenic mice are disclosed also in WO 98/24893, and Mendez et al., Nat. Genetics 15:146-156 (1997), which are herein incorporated by reference.

Using hybridoma technology, antigen-specific human mAbs with the desired specificity can be produced and selected from the transgenic mice such as those described above. Such antibodies may be cloned and expressed using a suitable vector and host cell, or the antibodies can be harvested from cultured hybridoma cells.

Fully human antibodies can also be derived from phage-display libraries (as disclosed in Hoogenboom et al., J. Mol. Biol. 227:381 (1991); and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222:581 (1991)). Phage-display techniques mimic immune selection through the display of antibody repertoires on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, and subsequent selection of phage by their binding to an antigen of choice. One such technique is described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 99/10494 (herein incorporated by reference), which describes the isolation of high affinity and functional agonistic antibodies for MPL- and msk-receptors using such an approach.

Additionally, one skilled in the art can review structure-function studies identifying residues in similar polypeptides that are important for activity or structure. In view of such a comparison, one can predict the importance of amino acid residues in a protein that correspond to amino acid residues important for activity or structure in similar proteins. One skilled in the art may opt for chemically similar amino acid substitutions for such predicted important amino acid residues.

One skilled in the art can also analyze the three-dimensional structure and amino acid sequence in relation to that structure in similar polypeptides. In view of such information, one skilled in the art may predict the alignment of amino acid residues of an antibody with respect to its three-dimensional structure. One skilled in the art may choose not to make radical changes to amino acid residues predicted to be on the surface of the protein, since such residues may be involved in important interactions with other molecules. Moreover, one skilled in the art may generate test variants containing a single amino acid substitution at each desired amino acid residue. These variants can then be screened using assays for CD40 binding, thus yielding information gathered from such routine experiments, one skilled in the art can readily determine the amino acid positions where further substitutions should be avoided either alone or in combination with other mutations.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, amino acid substitutions are made that: (1) reduce susceptibility to proteolysis, (2) reduce susceptibility to oxidation, (3) alter binding affinity for forming protein complexes, (4) alter ligand or antigen binding affinities, and/or (5) confer or modify other physicochemical or functional properties on such polypeptides. For example, single or multiple amino acid substitutions (in certain embodiments, conservative amino acid substitutions) may be made in the naturally-occurring sequence. Substitutions can be made in that portion of the antibody that lies outside the domain(s) forming intermolecular contacts. In such embodiments, conservative amino acid substitutions can be used that do not substantially change the structural characteristics of the parent sequence (e.g., one or more replacement amino acids that do not disrupt the secondary structure that characterizes the parent or native antibody). Examples of art-recognized polypeptide secondary and tertiary structures are described in Proteins, Structures and Molecular Principles (Creighton, Ed.), 1984, W.H. New York: Freeman and Company; Introduction to Protein Structure (Brandon and Tooze, eds.), 1991 New York: Garland Publishing; and Thornton et al., Nature 354:105 (1991), each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The disclosure also encompasses glycosylation variants of the antibodies wherein the number and/or type of glycosylation site(s) has been altered compared to the amino acid sequences of the parent polypeptide. In certain embodiments, antibody protein variants comprise a greater or a lesser number of N-linked glycosylation sites than the native antibody. An N-linked glycosylation site is characterized by the sequence: Asn-X-Ser or Asn-X-Thr, wherein the amino acid residue designated as X may be any amino acid residue except proline. The substitution of amino acid residues to create this sequence provides a potential new site for the addition of an N-linked carbohydrate chain. Alternatively, substitutions that eliminate or alter this sequence will prevent addition of an N-linked carbohydrate chain present in the native polypeptide. For example, the glycosylation can be reduced by the deletion of an Asn or by substituting the Asn with a different amino acid. In other embodiments, one or more new N-linked glycosylation sites are created. Antibodies typically have a N-linked glycosylation site in the Fc region.

Additional preferred antibody variants include cysteine variants wherein one or more cysteine residues in the parent or native amino acid sequence are deleted from or substituted with another amino acid (e.g., serine). Cysteine variants are useful, inter alia, when antibodies must be refolded into a biologically active conformation. Cysteine variants may have fewer cysteine residues than the native antibody, and typically have an even number to minimize interactions resulting from unpaired cysteines.

Derivatives of the antibodies and antigen binding fragments that are described herein are also provided. The derivatized antibody or fragment may comprise any molecule or substance that imparts a desired property to the antibody or fragment, such as increased half-life in a particular use. The derivatized antibody can comprise, for example, a detectable (or labeling) moiety (e.g., a radioactive, colorimetric, antigenic or enzymatic molecule, a detectable bead [such as a magnetic or electrodense (e.g., gold) bead], or a molecule that binds to another molecule (e.g., biotin or streptavidin), a therapeutic or diagnostic moiety (e.g., a radioactive, cytotoxic, or pharmaceutically active moiety), or a molecule that increases the suitability of the antibody for a particular use (e.g., administration to a subject, such as a human subject, or other in vivo or in vitro uses). Examples of molecules that can be used to derivatize an antibody include albumin (e.g., human serum albumin) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Albumin-linked and PEGylated derivatives of antibodies can be prepared using techniques well known in the art.

In certain embodiments, a polypeptide that specifically binds to DC receptors is able to bind a DC receptor on the surface of the cells and present an HIV antigen that allows the generation of a robust immune response. Moreover, in some embodiments, the polypeptide that is used can provided protective immunity against HIV.

1. Methods for Generating Antibodies

Methods for generating antibodies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies and/or monoclonal antibodies) are known in the art. Briefly, a polyclonal antibody is prepared by immunizing an animal with an antigenic polypeptide, such as a CD40 polypeptide or a portion thereof in accordance with embodiments and collecting antisera from that immunized animal.

A wide range of animal species can be used for the production of antisera. Typically the animal used for production of antisera is a rabbit, a mouse, a rat, a hamster, a guinea pig or a goat. The choice of animal may be decided upon the ease of manipulation, costs or the desired amount of sera, as would be known to one of skill in the art. It will be appreciated that antibodies can also be produced transgenically through the generation of a mammal or plant that is transgenic for the immunoglobulin heavy and light chain sequences of interest and production of the antibody in a recoverable form therefrom. In connection with the transgenic production in mammals, antibodies can be produced in, and recovered from, the milk of goats, cows, or other mammals. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,690, 5,756,687, 5,750,172, and 5,741,957.

As is also well known in the art, the immunogenicity of a particular immunogen composition can be enhanced by the use of non-specific stimulators of the immune response, known as adjuvants. Suitable adjuvants include any acceptable immunostimulatory compound, such as cytokines, chemokines, cofactors, toxins, plasmodia, synthetic compositions or vectors encoding such adjuvants.

Adjuvants that may be used in accordance with embodiments include, but are not limited to, IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, -interferon, GMCSP, BCG, aluminum hydroxide, MDP compounds, such as thur-MDP and nor-MDP, CGP (MTP-PE), lipid A, and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). RIBI, which contains three components extracted from bacteria, MPL, trehalose dimycolate (TDM) and cell wall skeleton (CWS) in a 2% squalene/Tween 80 emulsion is also contemplated. MHC antigens may even be used. Exemplary adjuvants may include complete Freund's adjuvant (a non-specific stimulator of the immune response containing killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis), incomplete Freund's adjuvants and/or aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

In addition to adjuvants, it may be desirable to coadminister biologic response modifiers (BRM), which have been shown to upregulate T cell immunity or downregulate suppressor cell activity. Such BRMs include, but are not limited to, Cimetidine (CIM; 1200 mg/d) (Smith/Kline, PA); low-dose Cyclophosphamide (CYP; 300 mg/m2) (Johnson/Mead, NJ), cytokines such as -interferon, IL-2, or IL-12 or genes encoding proteins involved in immune helper functions, such as B-7.

The amount of immunogen composition used in the production of antibodies varies upon the nature of the immunogen as well as the animal used for immunization. A variety of routes can be used to administer the immunogen including but not limited to subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, intraepidermal, intravenous and intraperitoneal. The production of antibodies may be monitored by sampling blood of the immunized animal at various points following immunization.

MAbs may be readily prepared through use of well-known techniques, such as those exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,265, incorporated herein by reference. Typically, this technique involves immunizing a suitable animal with a selected immunogen composition, e.g., a purified or partially purified protein, polypeptide, peptide or domain, be it a wild-type or mutant composition. The immunizing composition is administered in a manner effective to stimulate antibody producing cells.

The methods for generating monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) generally begin along the same lines as those for preparing polyclonal antibodies. In some embodiments, Rodents such as mice and rats are used in generating monoclonal antibodies. In some embodiments, rabbit, sheep or frog cells are used in generating monoclonal antibodies. The use of rats is well known and may provide certain advantages (Goding, 1986, pp. 60 61). Mice (e.g., BALB/c mice) are routinely used and generally give a high percentage of stable fusions.

MAbs produced by either means may be further purified, if desired, using filtration, centrifugation and various chromatographic methods such as HPLC or affinity chromatography. Fragments of the monoclonal antibodies can be obtained from the monoclonal antibodies so produced by methods which include digestion with enzymes, such as pepsin or papain, and/or by cleavage of disulfide bonds by chemical reduction. Alternatively, monoclonal antibody fragments can be synthesized using an automated peptide synthesizer.

It is also contemplated that a molecular cloning approach may be used to generate monoclonal antibodies. In one embodiment, combinatorial immunoglobulin phagemid libraries are prepared from RNA isolated from the spleen of the immunized animal, and phagemids expressing appropriate antibodies are selected by panning using cells expressing the antigen and control cells. The advantages of this approach over conventional hybridoma techniques are that approximately 104 times as many antibodies can be produced and screened in a single round, and that new specificities are generated by H and L chain combination which further increases the chance of finding appropriate antibodies.

Another embodiment concerns producing antibodies, for example, as is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,001, which describes methods to produce a cell expressing an antibody from a genomic sequence of the cell comprising a modified immunoglobulin locus using Cre-mediated site-specific recombination is disclosed. The method involves first transfecting an antibody-producing cell with a homology-targeting vector comprising a lox site and a targeting sequence homologous to a first DNA sequence adjacent to the region of the immunoglobulin loci of the genomic sequence which is to be converted to a modified region, so the first lox site is inserted into the genomic sequence via site-specific homologous recombination. Then the cell is transfected with a lox-targeting vector comprising a second lox site suitable for Cre-mediated recombination with the integrated lox site and a modifying sequence to convert the region of the immunoglobulin loci to the modified region. This conversion is performed by interacting the lox sites with Cre in vivo, so that the modifying sequence inserts into the genomic sequence via Cre-mediated site-specific recombination of the lox sites.

Alternatively, monoclonal antibody fragments can be synthesized using an automated peptide synthesizer, or by expression of full-length gene or of gene fragments in E. coli.

It is further contemplated that monoclonal antibodies may be further screened or optimized for properties relating to specificity, avidity, half-life, immunogenicity, binding association, binding disassociation, or overall functional properties relative to being a treatment for infection. Thus, it is contemplated that monoclonal antibodies may have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more alterations in the amino acid sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 CDRs of monoclonal antibodies or humanized antibodies provided herein. It is contemplated that the amino acid in position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of CDR1, CDR2, CDR3, CDR4, CDR5, or CDR6 of the VJ or VDJ region of the light or heavy variable region of antibodies may have an insertion, deletion, or substitution with a conserved or non-conserved amino acid. Such amino acids that can either be substituted or constitute the substitution are disclosed above.

In some embodiments, fragments of a whole antibody can perform the function of binding antigens. Examples of binding fragments are (i) the Fab fragment constituted with the VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains; (ii) the Fd fragment consisting of the VH and CH1 domains; (iii) the Fv fragment constituted with the VL and VH domains of a single antibody; (iv) the dAb fragment (Ward, 1989; McCafferty et al., 1990; Holt et al., 2003), which is constituted with a VH or a VL domain; (v) isolated CDR regions; (vi) F(ab′)2 fragments, a bivalent fragment comprising two linked Fab fragments (vii) single chain Fv molecules (scFv), wherein a VH domain and a VL domain are linked by a peptide linker which allows the two domains to associate to form an antigen binding site (Bird et al., 1988; Huston et al., 1988); (viii) bispecific single chain Fv dimers (PCT/US92/09965) and (ix) “diabodies”, multivalent or multispecific fragments constructed by gene fusion (WO94/13804; Holliger et al., 1993). Fv, scFv or diabody molecules may be stabilized by the incorporation of disulphide bridges linking the VH and VL domains (Reiter et al., 1996). Minibodies comprising a scFv joined to a CH3 domain may also be made (Hu et al. 1996). The citations in this paragraph are all incorporated by reference.

Antibodies also include bispecific antibodies. Bispecific or bifunctional antibodies form a second generation of monoclonal antibodies in which two different variable regions are combined in the same molecule (Holliger & Winter, 1999). Their use has been demonstrated both in the diagnostic field and in the therapy field from their capacity to recruit new effector functions or to target several molecules on the surface of tumor cells. Where bispecific antibodies are to be used, these may be conventional bispecific antibodies, which can be manufactured in a variety of ways (Holliger et al, 1993), e.g. prepared chemically or from hybrid hybridomas, or may be any of the bispecific antibody fragments mentioned above. These antibodies can be obtained by chemical methods (Glennie et al., 1987; Repp et al., 1995) or somatic methods (Staerz & Bevan, 1986) but likewise by genetic engineering techniques which allow the heterodimerization to be forced and thus facilitate the process of purification of the antibody sought (Merchand et al., 1998). Examples of bispecific antibodies include those of the BiTE™ technology in which the binding domains of two antibodies with different specificity can be used and directly linked via short flexible peptides. This combines two antibodies on a short single polypeptide chain. Diabodies and scFv can be constructed without an Fc region, using only variable domains, potentially reducing the effects of anti-idiotypic reaction. The citations in this paragraph are all incorporated by reference.

Bispecific antibodies can be constructed as entire IgG, as bispecific Fab′2, as Fab′PEG, as diabodies or else as bispecific scFv. Further, two bispecific antibodies can be linked using routine methods known in the art to form tetravalent antibodies.

Bispecific diabodies, as opposed to bispecific whole antibodies, may also be particularly useful because they can be readily constructed and expressed in E. coli. Diabodies (and many other polypeptides such as antibody fragments) of appropriate binding specificities can be readily selected using phage display (WO94/13804) from libraries. If one arm of the diabody is to be kept constant, for instance, with a specificity directed against SpA, then a library can be made where the other arm is varied and an antibody of appropriate specificity selected. Bispecific whole antibodies may be made by alternative engineering methods as described in Ridgeway et al., 1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

C. Antibody and Polypeptide Conjugates

Embodiments provide antibodies and antibody-like molecules against DC receptor, e.g. CD40, polypeptides and peptides that are linked to at least one agent to form an antibody conjugate or payload. In order to increase the efficacy of antibody molecules as diagnostic or therapeutic agents, it is conventional to link or covalently bind or complex at least one desired molecule or moiety. Such a molecule or moiety may be, but is not limited to, at least one effector or reporter molecule. Effector molecules comprise molecules having a desired activity, e.g., cytotoxic activity. Non-limiting examples of effector molecules which have been attached to antibodies include toxins, therapeutic enzymes, antibiotics, radio-labeled nucleotides and the like. By contrast, a reporter molecule is defined as any moiety which may be detected using an assay. Non-limiting examples of reporter molecules which have been conjugated to antibodies include enzymes, radiolabels, haptens, fluorescent labels, phosphorescent molecules, chemiluminescent molecules, chromophores, luminescent molecules, photoaffinity molecules, colored particles or ligands, such as biotin.

Certain examples of antibody conjugates are those conjugates in which the antibody is linked to a detectable label. “Detectable labels” are compounds and/or elements that can be detected due to their specific functional properties, and/or chemical characteristics, the use of which allows the antibody to which they are attached to be detected, and/or further quantified if desired.

Antibody conjugates include those intended primarily for use in vitro, where the antibody is linked to a secondary binding ligand and/or to an enzyme (an enzyme tag) that will generate a colored product upon contact with a chromogenic substrate. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, urease, alkaline phosphatase, (horseradish) hydrogen peroxidase or glucose oxidase. Preferred secondary binding ligands are biotin and/or avidin and streptavidin compounds. The use of such labels is well known to those of skill in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149 and 4,366,241; each incorporated herein by reference.

Molecules containing azido groups may also be used to form covalent bonds to proteins through reactive nitrene intermediates that are generated by low intensity ultraviolet light (Potter & Haley, 1983). In particular, 2- and 8-azido analogues of purine nucleotides have been used as site-directed photoprobes to identify nucleotide binding proteins in crude cell extracts (Owens & Haley, 1987; Atherton et al., 1985). The 2- and 8-azido nucleotides have also been used to map nucleotide binding domains of purified proteins (Khatoon et al., 1989; King et al., 1989; and Dholakia et al., 1989) and may be used as antibody binding agents.

Several methods are known in the art for the attachment or conjugation of an antibody to its conjugate moiety. Some attachment methods involve the use of a metal chelate complex employing, for example, an organic chelating agent such a diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid anhydride (DTPA); ethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid; N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide; and/or tetrachloro-3-6-diphenylglycouril-3 attached to the antibody (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,472,509 and 4,938,948, each incorporated herein by reference). Monoclonal antibodies may also be reacted with an enzyme in the presence of a coupling agent such as glutaraldehyde or periodate. Conjugates with fluorescein markers are prepared in the presence of these coupling agents or by reaction with an isothiocyanate. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,948, imaging of breast tumors is achieved using monoclonal antibodies and the detectable imaging moieties are bound to the antibody using linkers such as methyl-p-hydroxybenzimidate or N-succinimidyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate.

In some embodiments, derivatization of immunoglobulins by selectively introducing sulfhydryl groups in the Fc region of an immunoglobulin, using reaction conditions that do not alter the antibody combining site are contemplated. Antibody conjugates produced according to this methodology are disclosed to exhibit improved longevity, specificity and sensitivity (U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,066, incorporated herein by reference). Site-specific attachment of effector or reporter molecules, wherein the reporter or effector molecule is conjugated to a carbohydrate residue in the Fc region have also been disclosed in the literature (O'Shannessy et al., 1987). This approach has been reported to produce diagnostically and therapeutically promising antibodies which are currently in clinical evaluation.

In some embodiments anti-CD40 antibodies are used to target HIV antigens to dendritic cells. Compositions and methods for the expression, secretion and use of anti-CD40 antibodies as vaccines and antigen delivery vectors with one linked antigenic peptides are described in WO 2010/104761; all methods disclosed are incorporated herein by reference.

In certain aspects, peptide linkers are used to link a dendritic cell specific antibodies and HIV antigens to be presented. Peptide linkers may incorporate glycosylation sites or introduce secondary structure. Additionally these linkers increase the efficiency of expression or stability of the fusion protein and as a result the efficiency of antigen presentation to a dendritic cell. Such linkers may include the flexV1, f1, f2, and/or f3 linkers. These examples and others are discussed in WO 2010/104747, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

D. Immunostimulants

In some embodiments an immunostimulant is administered in combination with the antibody-antigen fusion protein. The term “immunostimulant” as used herein refers to a compound that can stimulate an immune response in a subject, and may include an adjuvant. In some embodiments, the immunostimulant is directly fused to the CD40 specific antibody. In either case, the immunostimulant may enhance the efficacy of the vaccine. In certain aspects the immunostimulant may be a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist. TLR agonists comprise flagellins from Salmonella enterica or Vibrio cholerae. TLR agonists may be specific for certain TLR classes (i.e., TLR5, TLR7 or TLR9 agonists) and may be presented in any combination or as any modification. Examples of such immune adjuvants are described in WO 2012/021834, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, an immunostimulant is an agent that does not constitute a specific antigen, but can boost the strength and longevity of an immune response to an antigen. Such immunostimulants may include, but are not limited to stimulators of pattern recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors, RIG-1 and NOD-like receptors (NLR), mineral salts, such as alum, alum combined with monphosphoryl lipid (MPL) A of Enterobacteria, such as Escherihia coli, Salmonella minnesota, Salmonella typhimurium, or Shigella flexneri or specifically with MPL® (AS04), MPL A of above-mentioned bacteria separately, saponins, such as QS-21, Quil-A, ISCOMs, ISCOMATRIX, emulsions such as MF59, Montanide, ISA 51 and ISA 720, AS02 (QS21+squalene+MPL.), liposomes and liposomal formulations such as ASO1, synthesized or specifically prepared microparticles and microcarriers such as bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMV) of N. gonorrheae, Chlamydia trachomatis and others, or chitosan particles, depot-forming agents, such as Pluronic block co-polymers, specifically modified or prepared peptides, such as muramyl dipeptide, aminoalkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphates, such as RC529, or proteins, such as bacterial toxoids or toxin fragments.

In some embodiments, the immunostimulant comprises an agonist for pattern recognition receptors (PRR), including, but not limited to Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), specifically TLRs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, additional agents comprise agonists for Toll-Like Receptors 3, agonists for Toll-Like Receptors 7 and 8, or agonists for Toll-Like Receptor 9. In some embodiments, the immunostimulants comprise imidazoquinolines; such as R848; adenine derivatives, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,381, U.S. Published Patent Application 2010/0075995, or WO 2010/018132; immunostimulatory DNA; or immunostimulatory RNA. In some embodiments, the immunostimulant may comprise immunostimulatory RNA molecules, such as but not limited to dsRNA, poly I:C, poly I:poly C, 12U (available as Ampligen®, both poly I:C and poly I:polyC12U being known as TLR3 stimulants), polyICLC (such as Hiltonol), and/or those disclosed in F. Heil et al., “Species-Specific Recognition of Single-Stranded RNA via Toll-like Receptor 7 and 8” Science 303(5663), 1526-1529 (2004); J. Vollmer et al., “Immune modulation by chemically modified ribonucleosides and oligoribonucleotides” WO 2008033432 A2; A. Forsbach et al., “Immunostimulatory oligoribonucleotides containing specific sequence motif(s) and targeting the Toll-like receptor 8 pathway” WO 2007062107 A2; E. Uhlmann et al., “Modified oligoribonucleotide analogs with enhanced immunostimulatory activity” U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. US 2006241076; G. Lipford et al., “Immunostimulatory viral RNA oligonucleotides and use for treating cancer and infections” WO 2005097993 A2; G. Lipford et al., “Immunostimulatory G,U-containing oligoribonucleotides, compositions, and screening methods” WO 2003086280 A2. In some embodiments, an additional agent may be a TLR-4 agonist, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), VSV-G, and/or HMGB-1. In some embodiments, additional agents may comprise TLR-5 agonists, such as flagellin, or portions or derivatives thereof, including but not limited to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,130,082, 6,585,980, and 7,192,725.

In some embodiments, the immunostimulant may be proinflammatory stimuli released from necrotic cells (e.g., urate crystals). In some embodiments, the immunostimulant may be activated components of the complement cascade (e.g., CD21, CD35, etc.). In some embodiments, the immunostimulant may be activated components of immune complexes. Immunostimulants also include complement receptor agonists, such as a molecule that binds to CD21 or CD35. In some embodiments, the complement receptor agonist induces endogenous complement opsonization of the synthetic nanocarrier. In some embodiments, immunostimulants are cytokines, which are small proteins or biological factors (in the range of 5 kD-20 kD) that are released by cells and have specific effects on cell-cell interaction, communication and behavior of other cells. In some embodiments, the cytokine receptor agonist is a small molecule, antibody, fusion protein, or aptamer.

III. Methods of Treatment

As discussed above, the compositions and methods of using these compositions can treat a subject (e.g., prevent an HIV infection or evoke a robust immune response to HIV) having, suspected of having, or at risk of developing an infection or related disease, particularly those related to HIV.

As used herein the phrase “immune response” or its equivalent “immunological response” refers to a humoral (antibody mediated), cellular (mediated by antigen-specific T cells or their secretion products) or both humoral and cellular response directed against a protein, peptide, or polypeptide of the invention in a recipient patient. Treatment or therapy can be an active immune response induced by administration of immunogen or a passive therapy effected by administration of antibody, antibody containing material, or primed T-cells.

For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims the terms “epitope,” “antigen,” “Ag,” and “antigenic determinant” are used interchangeably to refer to a site on an antigen to which B and/or T cells respond or recognize. B-cell epitopes can be formed both from contiguous amino acids or noncontiguous amino acids juxtaposed by tertiary folding of a protein. Epitopes formed from contiguous amino acids are typically retained on exposure to denaturing solvents whereas epitopes formed by tertiary folding are typically lost on treatment with denaturing solvents. An epitope typically includes at least 3, and more usually, at least 5 or 8-10 amino acids in a unique spatial conformation. Methods of determining spatial conformation of epitopes include those methods described in Epitope Mapping Protocols (1996). T cells recognize continuous epitopes of about nine amino acids for CD8 cells or about 13-15 amino acids for CD4 cells. T cells that recognize the epitope can be identified by in vitro assays that measure antigen-dependent proliferation, as determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation by primed T cells in response to an epitope (Burke et al., 1994), by antigen-dependent killing (cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay, Tigges et al., 1996) or by cytokine secretion.

The presence of a cell-mediated immunological response can be determined by proliferation assays (CD4 (+) T cells) or CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) assays. The relative contributions of humoral and cellular responses to the protective or therapeutic effect of an immunogen can be distinguished by separately isolating IgG and T-cells from an immunized syngeneic animal and measuring protective or therapeutic effect in a second subject. As used herein and in the claims, the terms “antibody” or “immunoglobulin” are used interchangeably.

Optionally, an antibody or preferably an immunological portion of an antibody, can be chemically conjugated to, or expressed as, a fusion protein with other proteins. For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, all such fused proteins are included in the definition of antibodies or an immunological portion of an antibody.

In one embodiment a method includes treatment for a disease or condition caused by a HIV pathogen. In certain aspects embodiments include methods of treatment of HIV infection infection, such as an infection acquired from an HIV positive individual. In some embodiments, the treatment is administered in the presence of HIV antigens. Furthermore, in some examples, treatment comprises administration of other agents commonly used against viral infection, such as one or more antiviral or antiretroviral compounds.

The therapeutic compositions are administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in such amount as will be therapeutically effective. The quantity to be administered depends on the subject to be treated. Precise amounts of active ingredient required to be administered depend on the judgment of the practitioner. Suitable regimes for initial administration and boosters are also variable, but are typified by an initial administration followed by subsequent administrations.

The manner of application may be varied widely. Any of the conventional methods for administration of a polypeptide therapeutic are applicable. These are believed to include oral application on a solid physiologically acceptable base or in a physiologically acceptable dispersion, parenterally, by injection and the like. The dosage of the composition will depend on the route of administration and will vary according to the size and health of the subject.

In certain instances, it will be desirable to have multiple administrations of the composition, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more administrations. The administrations can be at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 twelve week intervals, including all ranges there between.

A. Combination Therapy

The compositions and related methods, particularly administration of an antibody that binds a DC receptor, e.g. CD40, and delivers an HIV antigen or a peptide to a patient/subject, may also be used in combination with the administration of traditional anti-retroviral therapies. These include, but are not limited to, entry inhibitors, CCR5 receptor antagonists, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors and maturation inhibitors.

In one aspect, it is contemplated that a therapy is used in conjunction with antiviral or anti-retroviral treatment. Alternatively, the therapy may precede or follow the other agent treatment by intervals ranging from minutes to weeks. In embodiments where the other agents and/or a proteins or polynucleotides are administered separately, one would generally ensure that a significant period of time did not expire between the time of each delivery, such that the therapeutic composition would still be able to exert an advantageously combined effect on the subject. In such instances, it is contemplated that one may administer both modalities within about 12-24 h of each other and, more preferably, within about 6-12 h of each other. In some situations, it may be desirable to extend the time period for administration significantly, however, where several days (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) to several weeks (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) lapse between the respective administrations.

In yet another aspect, a vaccine may be administered as part of a prime/boost strategy. A priming vaccine dose can be administered using an antibody fused to an HIV antigen in any of the embodiments described herein. A vaccine boost can be administered through the use of a second vaccine, either of the same type or from a different type of vaccine. Examples of such different vaccines include DNA vaccines (naked or not) or a recombinant poxvirus. A recombinant pox virus can be selected from the group comprising NYVAC, NYVAC-KC, ALVAC and MVA virus. In some embodiments, the second vaccine, such as a pox virus vaccine or a DNA vaccine is used in a priming dose and the vaccines of the disclosure comprising the anti-DCR-HIV antigen fusion proteins, e.g the anti-CD40-HIV antigen fusion proteins, are administered in one or more booster doses. In one embodiment, the DNA vaccine is selected from DNA-HIV-PT123 DNA vaccine.

DNA-HIV-PT123 HIV vaccine may be presented as a solution for injection at a total DNA concentration of approximately 4.0 mg/ml in PBS buffer. The vaccine is an equi-mass mixture of three different recombinant plasmids expressing clade C 96ZM651 gp140, 96ZM651 Gag, and 97CD54 Pol-Nef. The DNA plasmid backbone was developed by the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), NIAID. The CMV/R promoter consists of the translational enhancer region of the CMV immediate early region 1 enhancer substituted with the 5′-untranslated human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) R-U5 region of the long terminal repeat (LTR) to optimize gene expression. Other elements of the plasmid include a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal termination sequence (Tbgh) and a kanamycin resistance cassette (Kan). Enhancements made to the inserts include RNA and codon optimization, RNA secondary structure modulation, splice sites removal, TCF binding sites removal, and increasing the GC content.

The second vaccine may comprise additional HIV antigens apart from the Env antigens that may be used in the first vaccine. It is also contemplated that the second vaccine may comprise an HIV protein such as an env protein plus an adjuvant either directly linked or administered independently.

Various combinations of therapy may be employed, for example antiviral or antiretroviral therapy is “A” and an antibody vaccine that comprises an antibody that binds a DC receptor and delivers an HIV antigen or a peptide or consensus peptide thereof is “B”:

A/B/A B/A/B B/B/A A/A/B A/B/B B/A/A A/B/B/B B/A/B/B

B/B/B/A B/B/A/B A/A/B/B A/B/A/B A/B/B/A B/B/A/A

B/A/B/A B/A/A/B A/A/A/B B/A/A/A A/B/A/A A/A/B/A

Administration of the antibody compositions to a patient/subject will follow general protocols for the administration of such compounds, taking into account the toxicity, if any, of the composition. It is expected that the treatment cycles would be repeated as necessary. It is also contemplated that various standard therapies, such as hydration, may be applied in combination with the described therapy.

B. General Pharmaceutical Compositions

In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions are administered to a subject. Different aspects may involve administering an effective amount of a composition to a subject. In some embodiments, an antibody that binds DC receptor, e.g. CD40, and delivers an HIV antigen or a peptide or consensus peptide thereof may be administered to the patient to protect against or treat infection by one or more HIV subtypes. Alternatively, an expression vector encoding one or more such antibodies or polypeptides or peptides may be given to a patient as a preventative treatment. Additionally, such compositions can be administered in combination with an antibiotic. Such compositions will generally be dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or aqueous medium.

The phrases “pharmaceutically acceptable” or “pharmacologically acceptable” refer to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce an adverse, allergic, or other untoward reaction when administered to an animal or human. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredients, its use in immunogenic and therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients, such as other anti-infective agents and vaccines, can also be incorporated into the compositions.

The active compounds can be formulated for parenteral administration, e.g., formulated for injection via the mucosal, intravenous, intradermal, intramuscular, sub-cutaneous, or even intraperitoneal routes. Typically, such compositions can be prepared as either liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for use to prepare solutions or suspensions upon the addition of a liquid prior to injection can also be prepared; and, the preparations can also be emulsified.

The pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions; formulations including sesame oil, peanut oil, or aqueous propylene glycol; and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases the form must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that it may be easily injected. It also should be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi.

The proteinaceous compositions may be formulated into a neutral or salt form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, include the acid addition salts (formed with the free amino groups of the protein) and which are formed with inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric, mandelic, and the like. Salts formed with the free carboxyl groups can also be derived from inorganic bases such as, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric hydroxides, and such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine, procaine and the like.

A pharmaceutical composition can include a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion, and by the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the active compounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization or an equivalent procedure. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum-drying and freeze-drying techniques, which yield a powder of the active ingredient, plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Administration of the compositions will typically be via any common route. This includes, but is not limited to oral, nasal, or buccal administration. Alternatively, administration may be by orthotopic, intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intranasal, or intravenous injection. In certain embodiments, a vaccine composition may be inhaled (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,655, which is specifically incorporated by reference). Such compositions would normally be administered as pharmaceutically acceptable compositions that include physiologically acceptable carriers, buffers or other excipients.

An effective amount of therapeutic or prophylactic composition is determined based on the intended goal. The term “unit dose” or “dosage” refers to physically discrete units suitable for use in a subject, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of the composition calculated to produce the desired responses discussed above in association with its administration, i.e., the appropriate route and regimen. The quantity to be administered, both according to number of treatments and unit dose, depends on the protection desired.

Precise amounts of the composition also depend on the judgment of the practitioner and are peculiar to each individual. Factors affecting dose include physical and clinical state of the subject, route of administration, intended goal of treatment (alleviation of symptoms versus cure), and potency, stability, and toxicity of the particular composition.

Upon formulation, solutions will be administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation and in such amount as is therapeutically or prophylactically effective. The formulations are easily administered in a variety of dosage forms, such as the type of injectable solutions described above.

IV. LISTING OF SEQUENCES

SEQ ID NO Brief Description SEQUENCE 1 Amino acid NLWVTVYYGVPVWKEAKTTLFCASDAKSYEKEVHNVWATHAC sequence of Env VPTDPNPQEIVLGNVTENFNMWKNDMVDQMHEDIISLWDQSLKP gp140 CVKLTPLCVTLNCTEVNVTRNVNNSVVNNTTNVNNSMNGDMKN CSFNITTELKDKKKNVYALFYKLDIVSLNETDDSETGNSSKYYRLI NCNTSALTQACPKVSFDPIPIHYCAPAGYAILKCNNKTFNGTGPCH NVSTVQCTHGIKPVVSTQLLLNGSLAEEGIIIRSENLTNNVKTIIVH LNRSIEIVCVRPNNNTRQSIRIGPGQTFYATGDIIGDIRQAHCNISRT NWTKTLREVRNKLREHFPNKNITFKPSSGGDLEITTHSFNCRGEFF YCNTSGLFSINYTENNTDGTPITLPCRIRQIINMWQEVGRAMYAPPI EGNIACKSDITGLLLVRDGGSTNDSTNNNTEIFRPAGGDMRDNWR SELYKYKVVEIKPLGIAPTEAKRRVVEREKRAVGIGAVFLGFLGA AGSTMGAASITLTAQARQVLSGIVQQQSNLLRAIEAQQHLLQLTV WGIKQLQTRVLAIERYLKDQQLLGLWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNISWS NKSKTDIWDNMTWMQWDREISNYTNTIYRLLEDSQSQQEQNEKD LLALDSWNNLWNWFDITKWLWYIK 2 Amino acid QTPTNTISVTPTNNSTPTNNSNPKPNP sequence of FlexV1 3 Amino acid asQTPTNTISVTPTNNSTPTNNSNPKPNPasNLWVTVYYGVPVWKEA sequence of JS- KTTLFCASDAKSYEKEVHNVWATHACVPTDPNPQEIVLGNVTEN FlexV1-JS-Env FNMWKNDMVDQMHEDIISLWDQSLKPCVKLTPLCVTLNCTEVN gp140-JS; JS VTRNVNNSVVNNTTNVNNSMNGDMKNCSFNITTELKDKKKNVY sites are lower ALFYKLDIVSLNETDDSETGNSSKYYRLINCNTSALTQACPKVSFD case; FlexV1  PIPIHYCAPAGYAILKCNNKTFNGTGPCHNVSTVQCTHGIKPVVST is in italics;  QLLLNGSLAEEGIIIRSENLTNNVKTIIVHLNRSIEIVCVRPNNNTRQ Env gp140 is  SIRIGPGQTFYATGDIIGDIRQAHCNISRTNWTKTLREVRNKLREHF underlined PNKNITFKPSSGGDLEITTHSFNCRGEFFYCNTSGLFSINYTENNTD GTPITLPCRIRQIINMWQEVGRAMYAPPIEGNIACKSDITGLLLVRD GGSTNDSTNNNTEIFRPAGGDMRDNWRSELYKYKVVEIKPLGIAP TEAKRRVVEREKRAVGIGAVFLGFLGAAGSTMGAASITLTAQAR QVLSGIVQQQSNLLRAIEAQQHLLQLTVWGIKQLQTRVLAIERYL KDQQLLGLWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNISWSNKSKTDIWDNMTWMQ WDREISNYTNTIYRLLEDSQSQQEQNEKDLLALDSWNNLWNWFD ITKWLWYIKas 4 Amino acid EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCATSGFTFSDYYMYWVRQAPGKG sequence of LEWVAYINSGGGSTYYPDTVKGRFTISRDNAKNTLYLQMNSLRA humanized heavy EDTAVYYCARRGLPFHAMDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAP chain of anti- CSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQ CD40 antibody SSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYG 12E12 (hAnti- PPCPPCPAPEFEGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQED CD40VH3-LV- PEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDW hIgG4HC) LNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMT KNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSF FLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 5 Amino acid DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCSASQGISNYLNWYQQKPGKAVK sequence of LLIYYTSILHSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDYTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQFN humanized light KLPPTFGGGTKLEIKGTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNF chain of anti- YPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKA CD40 antibody DYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC 12E12 (hAnti- CD4OVH3-LV- hIgG4HC) 6 Fusion EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCATSGFTFSDYYMYWVRQAPGKG polypeptide; JS LEWVAYINSGGGSTYYPDTVKGRFTISRDNAKNTLYLQMNSLRA sites are lower EDTAVYYCARRGLPFHAMDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAP case; FlexV1 is in CSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQ italics; Env gp140 SSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYG is underlined PPCPPCPAPEFEGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQED PEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDW LNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMT KNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSF FLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGKas QTPTNTISVTPTNNSTPTNNSNPKPNPasNLWVTVYYGVPVWKEAKT TLFCASDAKVYEKEVHNVWATHACVPTDPNPQEIVLGNVTENFN MWKNDMVDQMHEDIISLWDQSLKPCVKLTPLCVTLNCTEVNVT RNVNNSVVNNTTNVNNSMNGDMKNCSFNITTELKDKKKNVYAL FYKLDIVSLNETDDSETGNSSKYYRLINCNTSALTQACPKVSFDPIP IHYCAPAGYAILKCNNKTFNGTGPCHNVSTVQCTHGIKPVVSTQL LLNGSLAEEGIIIRSENLTNNVKTIIVHLNRSIEIVCVRPNNNTRQSIR IGPGQTFYATGDIIGDIRQAHCNISRTNWTKTLREVRNKLREHFPN KNITFKPSSGGDLEITTHSFNCRGEFFYCNTSGLFSINYTENNTDGT PITLPCRIRQIINMWQEVGRAMYAPPIEGNIACKSDITGLLLVRDGG STNDSTNNNTEIFRPAGGDMRDNWRSELYKYKVVEIKPLGIAPTE AKRRVVEREKRAVGIGAVFLGFLGAAGSTMGAASITLTAQARQV LSGIVQQQSNLLRAIEAQQHLLQLTVWGIKQLQTRVLAIERYLKD QQLLGLWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNISWSNKSKTDIWDNMTWMQWD REISNYTNTIYRLLEDSQSQQEQNEKDLLALDSWNNLWNWFDITK WLWYIKas 7 Coding nt ATGAGGGTCCCCGCTCAGCTCCTGGGGCTCCTGCTGCTCTGGCT sequence of SEQ CCCAGGCGCGCGATGTGATATCCAGATGACACAGAGCCCTTCC ID NO: 5 TCCCTGTCTGCCTCTGTGGGAGACAGAGTCACCATCACCTGCA GTGCAAGTCAGGGCATTAGCAATTATTTAAACTGGTATCAGCA GAAACCAGGCAAGGCCGTTAAACTCCTGATCTATTACACATCA ATTTTACACTCAGGAGTCCCATCAAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGT CTGGGACAGATTATACCCTCACCATCAGCTCCCTGCAGCCTGA AGATTTCGCCACTTACTATTGTCAGCAGTTTAATAAGCTTCCTC CGACGTTCGGTGGAGGCACCAAUCT(GAGATCAAAGGAACTGT GGCTGCACCATCTGTCTTCATCTTCCCGCCATCTGATGAGCAGT TGAAATCTGGAACTGCCTCTGTTGTGTGCCTGCTGAATAACTTC TATCCCAGAGAGGCCAAAGTACAGTGGAAGGTGGATAACGCC CTCCAATCGGGTAACTCCCAGGAGAGTGTCACAGAGCAGGACA GCAAGGACAGCACCTACAGCCTCAGCAGCACCCTGACGCTGAG CAAAGCAGACTACGAGAAACACAAAGTCTACGCCTGCGAAGT CACCCATCAGGGCCTGAGCTCGCCCGTCACAAAGAGCTTCAAC AGGGGAGAGTGTTAG 8 Coding nt ATGGGTTGGAGCCTCATCTTGCTCTTCCTTGTCGCTGTTGCTAC sequence of fusion GCGTGTCCACTCCGAAGTGCAGCTGGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGC polypeptide with TTAGTGCAGCCCGGAGGGTCCCTGAAACTCTCCTGTGCAACCT signal sequence CTGGATTCACTTTCAGTGACTATTACATGTATTGGGTTCGCCAG (SEQ ID NO: 9) GCCCCAGGCAAGGGCCTGGAGTGGGTCGCATACATTAATTCTG GTGGTGGTAGCACCTATTATCCAGACACTGTAAAGGGCCGATT CACCATCTCCAGAGACAATGCCAAGAACACCCTGTACCTGCAA ATGAACAGCCTGAGGGCCGAGGACACAGCCGTGTATTACTGTG CAAGACGGGGGTTACCGTTCCATGCTATGGACTATTGGGGTCA AGGAACCCTGGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGCCTTCCACCAAGGGCCCA TCCGTCTTCCCCCTGGCGCCCTGCTCCAGGAGCACCTCCGAGAG CACAGCCGCCCTGGGCTGCCTGGTCAAGGACTACTTCCCCGAA CCGGTGACGGTGTCGTGGAACTCAGGCGCCCTGACCAGCGGCG TGCACACCTTCCCGGCTGTCCTACAGTCCTCAGGACTCTACTCC CTCAGCAGCGTGGTGACCGTGCCCTCCAGCAGCTTGGGCACGA AGACCTACACCTGCAATGTAGATCACAAGCCCAGCAACACCAA GGTGGACAAGAGAGTTGAGTCCAAATATGGTCCCCCATGCCCA CCATGCCCAGCACCTGAGTTCGAGGGGGACCATCAGTCTTCC TGTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACTCTCATGATCTCCCGGAC CCCTGAGGTCACGTGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTGAGCCAGGAAGAC CCCGAGGTCCAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGATGGCGTGGAGGTGC ATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTTCAACAGCA CGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTG GCTGAACGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGG CCTCCCGTCCTCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGG CAGCCCCGAGAGCCACAGGTGTACACCCTGCCCCCATCCCAGG AGGAGATGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACCTGCCTGGTCAA AGGCTTCTACCCCAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAAT GGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGG ACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTACAGCAGGCTAACCGTGGAC AAGAGCAGGTGGCAGGAGGGGAATGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGA TGCATGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACACAGAAGAGCCTCTC CCTGTCTCTGGGTAAAGCTAGCCAGACCCCGACCAACACCATT TCCGTGACCCCCACCAACAATAGCACTCCGACGAACAACAGCA ACCCCAAGCCCAACCCGGCATCAAACCTCTG6GTGACCGTGTA CTATGGCGTCCCTGTGTGGAAAGAAGCCAAGACCACCCTGTTC TGCGCGTCCGACGCCAAGGTCTACGAAAAGGAGGTGCACAATG TCTGGGCCACFCACGCCTGCGTCCCCACTGACCCAAACCCACA AGAAATCGTGCTGGGGAACGTGACCGAGAACTTCAATATGTGG AAGAACGACATGGTGGACCAGATGCATGAGGATATCATCAGCC TGTGGGACCAGTCGCTCAAGCCTTGCGTCAAGCTGACTCCTCTG TGTGTGACCTTGAACTGTACTGAAGTGAACGTGACCAGGAACG TCAACAACAGCGTGGTCAACAACACTACCAACGTGAACAAGTC CATGAACGGAGACATGAAGAATTGCTCCTTCAACATCACCACC GAACTCAAGGACAAGAAGAAGAATGTGTACGCCCTGTTCTACA AGTTGGACATCGTGTCCCTCAACGAAACTGACGATTCCGAAAC CGGGAACTCGTCCAAGTATTACCGGCTCATCAACTGCAACACC TCCGCCCTGACTCAGGCTTGCCGAAAGTGTCCTTCGACCCAAT TCCGATCCATTACTGCGCCCCCGCCGGTTACGCCATTCTGAAGT GCAACAATAAGACCTTCAACGGAACAGGCCCCTGCCACAACGT GTCGACCGTGCAGTGCACACACGGTATCAAACCCGTCGTGTCC ACCCAACTCCTGCTGAACGGCTCACTGGCTGAGGAGGGTATTA TCATCCGGTCCGAGAACCTGACTAACAACGTGAAAACCATTAT CGTGCACCTGAACCGATCGATCGAAATCGTCTGCGTGCGCCCT AACAACAATACTCGGCAGTCCATCCGGATCGGGCCTGGACAGA CTTTCTACGCGACCGGAGATATCATTGGAGATATCAGACAGGC GCACTGTAACATCTCCCGCACCAACTGGACCAAGACCCTGAGA GAAGTCAGAAACAAGCTCCGAGAGCACTTCCCCAACAAGAAC ATCACCTTTAAGCCGTCCTCCGGCGGCGACCTGGAGATTACCA CTCATCGTTCAACTGCCGCGGGGAATTCTTCTACTGTAATACC TCCGGACTGTTTTCCATCAACTACACTGAAAACAACACCGATG GCACCCCGATTACCCTTCCGTGCCGGATTAGGCAGATCATTAAT ATGTGGCAGGAGGTCGGACGGGCTATGTACGCCCCGCCGATTG AGGGAAATATCGCCTGCAAATCCGACATTACTGGCCTGCTGCT CGTGCGCGACGGAGGCTCSACCAACGACAGCACCAACAACAA CACTGAGATCTTCCGGCCCGCCGGCGGAGATATGAGAGATAAC TGGAGGTCCGAACTTTACAAGTACAAGGTCGTGGAAATCAAGC CGCTTGGTATTGCACCTACCGAGGCCAAGAGAAGAGTGGTGGA GCGGGAGAAGCGGGCAGTGGGGATCGGAGCCGTGTTCCTGGG ATTCCTGGGCGCGGCGGGCTCGACCATGGGAGCGGCCTCTATT ACCCTGACGGCTCAGGCCCGCCAAGTGCTGAGCGGAATCGTGC AGCAGCAATCGAATCTGCTGCGGGCCATCGAAGCCCAGCAGCA CCTCTTGCAACTTACTGTGTGGGGTATCAAGCAGCTTCAAACTC GCGTGTTGGCCATAGAACGCTACCTGAAGGACCAGCAGTTGCT CGGACTCTGGGGTTGCAGCGGGAAGCTGATTTGCACTACTGCC GTGCCGTGGAACATCTCCTGGTCAAACAAGAGCAAAACCGACA TTTGGGACAACATGACGTGGATGCAGTGGGATCGSGAGATCTC AAACTACACTAACACCATCTACCGCCTGCTGGAGGACTCCCAG TCACAACAGGAACAGAACGAAAAGGATCTGCTGGCACTGGAC TCATGGAACAACCTGTGGAACTGGTTTGACATCACCAAGTGGC TGTGGTACATCAAGGCGTCTTGA 9 Fusion MGWSLILLFLVAVATRVHSEVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCATSG polypeptide with FTFSDYYMYWVRQAPGKGLEWVAYINSGGGSTYYPDTVKGRFTI signal peptide SRDNAKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRGLPFHAMDYWGQGT Signal peptide is LVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVS double underlined; WNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNV JS sites are lower DHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYGPPCPPCPAPEFEGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTL case; FlexV1 is in MISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQ italics; Env gp140 FNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAK is underlined GQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNG QPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHE ALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGKasQTPTNTISVTPTNNSTPTNNSNPKPNPasN LWVTVYYGVPVWKEAKTTLFCASDAKVYEKEVHNVWATHACV PTDPNPQEIVLGNVTENFNMWKNDMVDQMHEDIISLWDQSLKPC VKLTPLCVTLNCTEVNVTRNVNNSVVNNTTNVNNSMNGDMKNC SFNITTELKDKKKNVYALFYKLDIVSLNETDDSETGNSSKYYRLIN CNTSALTQACPKVSFDPIPIHYCAPAGYAILKCNNKTFNGTGPCHN VSTVQCTHGIKPVVSTQLLLNGSLAEEGIIIRSENLTNNVKTIIVHL NRSIEIVCVRPNNNTRQSIRIGPGQTFYATGDIIGDIRQAHCNISRTN WTKTLREVRNKLREHFPNKNITFKPSSGGDLEITTHSFNCRGEFFY CNTSGLFSINYTENNTDGTPITLPCRIRQIINMWQEVGRAMYAPPIE GNIACKSDITGLLLVRDGGSTNDSTNNNTEIFRPAGGDMRDNWRS ELYKYKVVEIKPLGIAPTEAKRRVVEREKRAVGIGAVFLGFLGAA GSTMGAASITLTAQARQVLSGIVQQQSNLLRAIEAQQHLLQLTVW GIKQLQTRVLAIERYLKDQQLLGLWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNISWSN KSKTDIWDNMTWMQWDREISNYTNTIYRLLEDSQSQQEQNEKDL LALDSWNNLWNWFDITKWLWYIKas 10 (12E12) HCD40- GFTFSDYYMY CDR1H 11 (12E12) HCD40- YINSGGGSTYYPDTVKG CDR2H 12 (12E12) HCD40- RGLPFHAMDY CDR3H 13 (12E12) LCD40- SASQGISNYLN CDR1L 14 (12E12) LCD40- YTSILHS CDR2L 15 (12E12) LCD40- QQFNKLPPT CDR3L 16 rAB- EVQLQQSGPELVKPGASVKISCKASGYSFTGYYMHWVKQSHVKS pIRES2[manti- LEWIGRINPYNGATSYNQNFKDKASLTVDKSSSTAYMELHSLTSE CD40_11B6.1C3_ DSAVYYCAREDYVYWGQGTTLTVSSAKTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSE H-LV-hIgG4H-C] STAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSL SSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKYGPPCPPCP APEFEGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEVQFN WYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEY KCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSL TCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLT VDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGKAS 17 rAB - DVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCRSSQSLVHSNGNTYLHWYLQKP pIRES2[manti- GQSPKLLIYKVSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFALKISRVEAEDLGVY CD40_11B6.1C3 FCSQSTHVPWTFGGGTKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASV K-LV-hIgGK-C] VCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLS STLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC 18 (11B6) HCD40- GYSFTGYYMH CDR1H 19 (11B6) HCD40- RINPYNGATSYNQNFKD CDR2H 20 (11B6) HCD40- EDYVY CDR3H 21 (11B6) LCD40- RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH CDR1L 22 (11B6) LCD40- KVSNRFS CDR2L 23 (11B6) LCD40- SQSTHVPWT CDR3L 24 rAB- EVQLQQSGPELVKPGASVKMSCKASGYTFTDYVLHWVKQKPGQ pIRES2[manti- GLEWIGYINPYNDGTKYNEKFKGKATLTSDKSSSTAYMELSSLTS CD40_12B4.2C10_ EDSAVYYCARGYPAYSGYAMDYWGQGTSVTVSSAKTKGPSVFP H-LV-hIgG4H-C] LAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPA VLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVES KYGPPCPPCPAPEFEGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDV SQEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLH QDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQ EEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDS DGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSL GKAS 25 rAB- DIQMTQTTSSLSASLGDRVTISCRASQDISNYLNWYQQKPDGTVK pIRES2[manti- LLIYYTSRLHSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDYSLTISNLEQEDIATYFCHHGN CD40_12B4.2C10_ TLPWTFGGGTKLEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNN K-LV-v2- FYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSK hIgGK-C] ADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC 26 (12B4) HCD40- GYTFTDYVLH CDR1H 27 (12B4) HCD40- YINPYNDGTKYNEKFKG CDR2H 28 (12B4) HCD40- GYPAYSGYAMDY CDR3H 29 (12B4) LCD40- RASQDISNYLN CDR1L 30 (12B4) LCD40- YTSRLHS CDR2L 31 (12B4) LCD40- HHGNTLPWT CDR3L V. Examples

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 Superiority in Rhesus Macaques of Targeting HIV-1 Env Gp140 to CD40 Versus LOX-1 in Combination with Replication Competent NYVAC-KC for Induction of Env-Specific Antibody and T Cell Responses

The inventors compared the HIV-1-specific immune responses generated by targeting HIV-1 envelope protein (Env gp140) to either CD40 or LOX-1, two endocytic receptors on dendritic cells (DCs), in Rhesus macaques primed with a poxvirus vector (NYVAC-KC) expressing Env gp140. The DC-targeting vaccines, humanized recombinant monoclonal antibodies fused to Env gp140, were administered as a boost with poly ICLC adjuvant either alone or co-administered with the NYVAC-KC vector. All the DC-targeting vaccine administrations with poly ICLC increased the low-level serum anti-Env IgG responses elicited by NYVAC-KC priming significantly more (up to P=0.01) than a group without poly ICLC. The responses were robust, cross-reactive, and contained antibodies specific to multiple epitopes within gp140 including the C1, C2, V1-3, C4, C5, and gp41 immuno-dominant regions. The DC-targeting vaccines also elicited modest serum Env-specific IgA responses. All groups gave serum neutralization activity limited to Tier 1 viruses and antibody dependent cytotoxicity responses (ADCC) after DC-targeting boosts. Furthermore, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses specific to multiple Env epitopes were strongly boosted by the DC-targeting vaccines+poly ICLC. Together, these results indicate that prime/boost immunization via NYVAC-KC and either αCD40.Env gp140/poly ICLC or αLOX-1.Env gp140/poly ICLC induced balanced antibody and T cell responses against HIV-1 Env. Co-administration of NYVAC-KC with the DC-targeting vaccines increased T cell responses, but had minimal effects on antibody responses except for suppressing serum IgA responses. Overall, compared to LOX-1, targeting Env to CD40 gave more robust T cell and serum antibody responses with broader epitope representation and greater durability.

In this study, we directly compare the efficacy of targeting HIV-1 Env gp140 to CD40 versus LOX-1 in combination with replication competent vaccinia virus vector NYVAC-KC encoding Env gp140. Specifically, this study aims to: i) establish the safety and immunogenicity of NYVAC-KC prime followed by boost via DC-targeting to either LOX-1 or CD40 formulated with poly ICLC adjuvant and either administered alone or co-administered with NYVAC-KC; ii) compare the boosting ability of DC-targeting via either LOX-1 or CD40 formulated with poly ICLC adjuvant either administered alone or co-administered with NYVAC-KC; and iii) test the boosting ability of DC-targeting via CD40 either co-administered with poly ICLC or administered alone.

A. Materials and Methods

1. Production and Quality Assurance of αCD40.Env Gp140 and αLOX-1.Env gp140.

αCD40.Env gp140 was derived from the parental anti-human CD40 12E12 recombinant human IgG4 mAb (GenBank HQ738667.1 and HQ738666.1) via humanization of the mouse variable regions (Antitope, Ltd) as defined by the variable regions in GenBank KM660791 and KM660792. Env gp140 sequence derived from the codon optimized HIV-1 96ZM651 synthetic construct (NIH AIDS reagent program, GenBank AY181197.1 residues 94-2064) was inserted at the IgG4 heavy chain C-terminal codon distal to a flexV1 flexible linker spacer and proximal to 6 His codons. αLOX-1.Env gp140 was derived from the parental anti-human LOX-1 15C4 recombinant human IgG4 mAb; GenBank KM246787 and KM246788) via humanization of the mouse variable regions (Antitope, Ltd). This was fused to Env gp140 sequence as described above. Specificity and relative binding affinity of αCD40.Env gp140 and αLOX-1.Env gp140 to human and Rhesus macaque CD40 and LOX-1 ectodomains (encoded respectively by GenBank gb|AAO43990.1| residues 22-193, and ref|NP_001252791.1| residues 21-193, dbj|AB102861.1| residues 169-918 and ref|NM_001194668.1| residues 295-945) fused via the cohesion C-terminus (GenBank gb|CP000568.1| residues 3622666-3623172 with a Nhe I site linker) was tested by an adaption of multiplexed bead-based assay for equilibrium competition binding analysis of αLOX-1 Env gp140 and αCD40 Env gp140 interaction with human and NHP LOX-1 and CD40 ectodomains. In this assay, beads were coated with human LOX-1, NHP LOX-1, human CD40, or NHP CD40 ectodomains and incubated overnight with 10 ng/ml of the parental mouse αLOX-1 15C4 or αCD40 12E12 mAbs and varying concentrations of humanized αLOX-1, αLOX-1 Env gp140, αCD40, or αCD40 Env gp140, then probed with PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG, and analyzed with a Bio-Plex 200 instrument. There was no significant difference between the binding of humanized αLOX-1 vs. αLOX-1 Env gp140 to human (EC₅₀ 0.6 pM) or NHP LOX-1 (IC₅₀ 0.6 pM) coated beads, and the binding of humanized αCD40 vs. αCD40 Env gp140 to human (IC₅₀ 1 pM vs. 1.2 pM) or NHP (IC₅₀ 0.83 pM vs. 1.2 pM) CD40 coated beads was similar (data not shown). The vaccines were formulated and administered exactly as described below.

2. Animals and Assays.

Thirty male Rhesus macaques ranging in age from 3 to 6 years and weighing at least 4 kg were procured from Harlan Laboratories and housed at the Advanced Biosciences Laboratories (ABL) animal facility in Rockville, Md. The ABL in vivo facility is USDA-registered and accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC). ABL's veterinary practices comply with all policies of the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,” DHHS (NIH 85-23), Animal Welfare (DHHS-TN 73-2) the NIH Manual Issuance 4206 and 6000-3-4-58, “Responsibility for Care and Use of Animals CDC/NIH 4th edition”, “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,” and Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals under a Category 1 assurance from OLAW. All procedures were carried out under Ketamine anesthesia by trained personnel under the supervision of veterinary staff and all efforts were made to ameliorate the welfare and to minimize animal suffering in accordance with the “Weatherall report for the use of non-human primates” recommendations. Other than for a seven-day post-inoculation follow up observation period, animals were pair-housed in adjoining primate cages allowing social interactions, under controlled conditions of humidity, temperature and light (12-hour light/12-hour dark cycles). Food and water were available ad libitum. Animals were monitored and fed standard laboratory rations twice daily. Trained personnel offered dietary supplements with fresh fruit and occasional treats at least once a day. Early endpoint criteria, as proposed by the project team and approved by the IACUC, were used to determine when animals should be humanely euthanized. The ABL veterinarian was authorized to determine whether animals met such criteria and if necessary, was tasked to stabilize any affected animals prior to consulting with the lead investigators. ABL's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved of the proposed study protocol prior to the initiation of any in vivo work. The protocol number assigned by the IACUC/ethics committee that approved this study is AUP567.

3. Vaccination Protocols.

The NYVAC-KC virus inoculum was provided in 0.2 ml aliquots as NYVAC-KC expressing Env gp140 (ZM96) and ZM96 Gag plus CN54 PolNef at 0.1 ml of each virus @1.2×10⁸ pfu per vial. The immunogen mixture according to molar ratios was Env:GagPolNef=1:1. Prior to administration, the required number of vaccine vials containing the virus mixture were thawed at 37° C. and put on ice immediately after thawing. 1 ml of 1×TBS was added to each vial and briefly vortexed. Sonication with a Bransonic 1210 unit was performed according to the following procedure: fill water bath of the sonicator with water and ice; sonicate sample 3 times for 10 sec each time; after the sonication steps, vortex sample. For each animal, 1 ml of the vaccine preparation was drawn up from the vials by a 1 ml syringe and kept on ice until administration. Before immunization, the skin of the upper arm (deltoid) was shaved and cleaned with alcohol. Animals received the vaccine preparation via intramuscular injection of 1 ml of the vaccine preparation @2×10⁸ pfu/ml total of 2 viruses in the deltoid. The poly ICLC was provided in 1 ml vials at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Vials (Hiltonol Lot: PJ215-1-10-01) were stored at 2-8° C. Administration was 1 mg (subcutaneous) in two injections of 250 μl in the center of each circular injection pattern (3-4 cm diameter) formed by the intradermal administrations of αLOX-1.Env gp140 or αCD40.Env gp140 vaccine components which were stored in 1 M Arginine+100 mM Tris.HCl Buffer pH 6-8. Protein vaccine administrations were at a 200 μg dose, intradermal in a total of 8 injections of 250 μl each (2 ml total injection)—four injections was performed in each side of the back placed in a circular pattern. To avoid toxicity of 1 M Arginine buffer, the concentrated protein was diluted approximately 1:4 in PBS before use. Each animal received in the upper back (dorsal thoracic) a total of 8 intradermal injections of 250 μl each. Four injections were performed in each side of the back placed in a circular pattern of 3-4 cm of diameter. Skin was shaved before injection and cleaned with 70% alcohol solution. Intradermal injections were performed using an insulin syringe. The injection of poly ICLC was performed after the i.d. injections of the proteins and in the middle of each circle with 500 μl injected s.c. This administration procedure was designed to promote drainage of antigen and adjuvant to the same lymph node site and at the recommendation of ABL's head veterinarian. The supervising veterinarian reported no adverse events from the vaccinations.

4. Neutralization Assay.

Neutralizing antibodies were measured as a function of reductions in luciferase (Luc) reporter gene expression after a single round of infection in TZM-bl cells. TZM-bl cells (also called JC57BL-13) and A3R5 cells were obtained from the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program, as contributed by John Kappes and Xiaoyun Wu. Briefly, a pre-titrated dose of virus was incubated with serial 3-fold dilutions of test sample in duplicate in a total volume of 150 μl for 1 h at 37° C. in 96-well flat-bottom culture plates. Freshly trypsinized cells (10,000 cells in 100 μl of growth medium containing 75 μg/ml DEAE dextran) were added to each well. One set of 8 control wells received cells+virus (virus control) and another set received cells only (background control). After 48 hours of incubation, 100 μl of cells was transferred to a 96-well black solid plate (Costar) for measurements of luminescence using the Britelite Luminescence Reporter Gene Assay System (PerkinElmer Life Sciences). Assay stocks of molecularly cloned Env-pseudotyped viruses were prepared by transfection in 293T/17 cells (American Type Culture Collection) and titrated in TZM-bl cells. This assay has been formally optimized and validated, and was performed in compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP), including participation in a formal proficiency testing program. Additional information on the assay and all supporting protocols may be found on the world wide web at: hiv.lanl.gov/content/nab-reference-strains/html/home.htm. The method for MB analysis of serum neutralization assays as shown in FIG. 4.

5. HIV-1 Specific Binding Antibody Assay.

HIV-1 specific IgG antibodies to gp120/gp140 proteins and V1/V2 scaffolds were measured by an HIV-1 binding antibody multiplex assay. All assays were run under GCLP compliant conditions, including tracking of positive controls by Levy-Jennings charts using 21CFR Part 11 compliant software. Positive controls included a HIVIG and CH58 mAb IgG titration. Negative controls included in every assay were blank (uncoupled) and MulVgp70 His6 (empty gp70 scaffold) coupled beads, a blank well on each assay plate, as well as HIV-1 negative sera. To control for antigen performance, we used the preset criteria that the positive control titer (HIVIG) included on each assay (and for assays with V1V2 antigens, CH58 mAb, had to be within +/−3 standard deviations of the mean for each antigen (tracked with a Levy-Jennings plot with preset acceptance of titer and calculated with a four-parameter logistic equation, SigmaPlot, Systat Software). Antibody measurements were acquired on a Bio-Plex instrument (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) using 21CFR Part 11 compliant software and the readout is in MFI. The following antigens were examined: ZM96 gp140-C tag (Baylor Health); (Con S gp140 CF (a group M consensus envelope gp140; A1.con.env03 140 CF (clade A Consensus), B.con.env03 140 CF (clade B Consensus), C.con.env03 140 CF (clade C Consensus), clade A 00MSA 4076 gp140, gp70 control, gp70 _B.CaseA2 V1/V2 (a recombinant clade B gp70 scaffold protein with the V1V2 variable region), C.1086V1-V2 Tags and C.1086 V2 tags (a transmitted clade C isolate provided by Drs. Liao and Haynes, Duke) and AE.A244 V1/V2 tags, AE.A244 V2 tags (Clade AE sequence of RV144 vaccine immunogen.

6. Serum Antibody Linear Epitope Mapping.

Serum epitope mapping of heterologous strains was performed as previously described with minor modifications. Briefly, array slides were provided by JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH (Germany) by printing a library designed by Dr. B. Korber, Los Alamos National Laboratory, onto Epoxy glass slides (PolyAn GmbH, Germany). The library contains overlapping peptides (15-mers overlapping by 12) covering 6 full length gp160 consensus sequences (Clade A, B, C, D, Group M, CRF1, and CRF2), and gp120 sequences of 6 vaccine strains (MN, A244, Th023, TV-1, ZM651, 1086C). 3 identical subarrays, each containing the full peptide library, were printed on each slide. All array slides were blocked for 1 hour, followed by a 2 hr incubation with 1:50 diluted serum samples and a subsequent 45 min incubation with Goat Anti-Hu IgG conjugated with AF647 (Jackson ImmunoResearch, PA). Array slides were scanned at a wavelength of 635 nm using an Axon Genepix 4300 Scanner (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif., USA). Images were analyzed using Genepix Pro 7 software (Molecular Devices) to obtain binding intensity values for all peptides. Binding of postimmunization serum to each peptide was subtracted of its own baseline value, which was defined as the median signal intensity of the triplicates of the peptide for the matched prebleed serum plus 3 times the standard error of the triplicates. Binding magnitude to each identified epitope was defined as the highest binding by a single peptide within the epitope region.

7. Intracellular Cytokine Staining.

Cryopreserved PBMC were thawed and rested overnight in R10/RPMI 1640 (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, Md.), 10% FBS, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin G, 100 μg/ml streptomycin] with 50 U/ml Benzonase (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) in a 37° C./5% CO₂ incubator. The following morning, cells were stimulated with peptide pools (2 μg/ml, described in 2) in the presence of GogiPlug (10 μg/ml; BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif.) for 6 h. Negative controls received an equal concentration of DMSO instead of peptides. Subsequently, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) was performed as described in the art. The following monoclonal antibodies were used: CD4-BV421 (clone OKT4; BioLegend), CD8-BV570 (clone RPA-T8; BioLegend), CD69-ECD (clone TP1.55.3; Beckman Coulter), CD3-Cy7APC (clone SP34.2; BD Biosciences), IFN-γ-APC (clone B27; BD Biosciences), IL-2-PE (clone MQ1-17H12; BD Biosciences), and TNF-FITC (clone Mab11; BD Biosciences). Aqua LIVE/DEAD kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) was used to exclude dead cells. All antibodies were previously titrated to determine the optimal concentration. Samples were acquired on an LSR II flow cytometer and analyzed using FlowJo version 9.8 (Treestar, Inc., Ashland, Oreg.).

8. ADCC

ADCC activity against MW965.1 gp120 (provided by the Duke CAVD repository) coated CEM.NKR_(CCR5) (NIH AIDS Reagent Program, Division of AIDS, NIAID, NIH: CEM.NKR-CCR5 from Dr. Alexandra Trkola) target cells was measured using the ADCC-GranToxiLux (GTL) assay as previously described in the art. The peak activity is the maximum activity observed at any dilution and considered positive if above the 8% Granzyme B activity cut-off.

9. ELISPOT

Millipore 96 well filtration plates were pre-treated with 70% EtOH, washed 5× with 1×PBS and then coated with 5 μg/ml mouse-anti-human-IFNγ antibody (BD Pharmingen) over night at 4° C. After blocking with complete RPMI for 2 h at 37° C., 2×10⁵ PBMCs (prepared as for ICS) were stimulated in triplicates with peptide pools at 1 μg/ml, or PHA (2.5 μg/ml) as positive control, while addition of medium only served as negative control. The peptides and peptide pools used are those described in the art. Plates were incubated at 37° C. for 18-24 h before washing with cold H₂O twice and PBS/T for five times. Biotinylated anti-IFNγ-antibody (Mabtech) was added at 1 μg/ml for 1 hour at 37° C. and, after washing, a 1:2000 dilution of Avidin-HRP (Vector Laboratories) was added, again for 1 h at 37° C. After final washing, stable DAB (Invitrogen) was added for 2 min, and then the reaction was stopped with water washing. After drying, the numbers of spots in each well were counted with an automated ELISPOT reader (CTL Immunospot).

10. Statistical Methods

Wilcoxon signed-rank tests or 2-tailed t tests are used to compare change of marker value at specific time points with baseline within each group. Comparison between groups at specific time points was made using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Response rates were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test. Overall magnitude of ELISPOT response was compared between groups G1 and G2 by fitting a random effect model using log transformed data measured after W14. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were done with R (version 3.1.2; The R foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). For the antigen-specific antibody measurements several criteria are used to determine if data from an assay are acceptable and can be statistically analyzed. The blood draw rate must be within the allowable visit window as determined by the protocol. Secondly, if the blank bead negative control exceeds 5,000 MFI, the sample will be repeated. If the repeat value exceeds 5,000 MFI, the sample will be excluded from analysis due to high background. QC and standard curve titers must fall within +/−3 standard deviations of the historical mean plotted on Levey Jennings charts. Sample and control replicates must also be within 20% CV. Samples are declared to have positive responses if they meet three conditions: i) the MFI minus Blank bead or MulVgp70 His6 values are greater than or equal to antigen-specific cutoff (based on the average +3 standard deviations of 60 seronegative plasma samples), ii) the MFI minus Blank values are greater than 3 times the baseline MFI minus blank values, and iii) the MFI values are greater than 3 times the baseline MFI values. For each antigen and visit, the magnitude of binding response among both responders and non-responders is compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Response rates were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test. No adjustments were made for multiple comparisons, as these are exploratory analyses for which increased Type 1 error is tolerated for better sensitivity to detect effects. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

B. Results

1. HIV-1 Env Gp140 Targeted to Either LOX-1 or CD40 Elicits Env-specific B Cell Responses in NHPs Primed with a Live Virus Vector.

The inventors previously described an anti-human LOX-1 recombinant human IgG4 antibody fused via a flexible linker to the heavy (H) chain C-terminus to codon optimized Env gp140 protein from the clade C HIV-1 96ZM651 (called ZM96) strain (αLOX-1.Env gp140). A similar fusion protein (αCD40.Env gp140) was generated linking gp140 to a humanized anti-human CD40 recombinant human IgG4 antibody. αCD40.Env gp140 retained specific binding to human and Rhesus macaque CD40 (see Materials and Methods). In the previous study αLOX-1.Env gp140 administered intradermally (i.d.) with TLR3 ligand poly ICLC given nearby subcutaneously (s.c.) efficiently boosted both humoral and cellular responses in Rhesus macaques primed with two intramuscular (i.m.) injections of replication competent NYVAC-KC vaccinia virus vectors encoding HIV-1 Gag, Nef, Pol and Env gp140 sequences. To this protocol the inventors added other NHP groups to test the relative efficacy of targeting Env gp140 via CD40 versus LOX-1, to investigate potential benefits of co-administering NYVAC-KC viruses coding for Env gp140 and Gag, Nef, Pol with the DC-targeting vaccinations, and to establish the potency of CD40 targeting in the absence of TLR3 stimulation. Table 1 shows the overall study design and tissue sampling schedule.

In this study, Env-specific serum IgG responses were observed in all animals at all 3 post-DC-targeting vaccination time points, including high titers against the vaccine strain ZM96 gp140 FIG. 1A) as well as group M consensus (FIG. 1B, con S gp140 CF), clade C (FIG. 1C, C.con.env03 140 CF), and clade B (FIG. 1D, B.con.env03 140 CF) cross clade sequences. Titers in response to the two NYVAC-KC vaccinations (week 6) were modest, but were boosted in all groups to almost maximal levels after one DC-targeting vaccine administration. These responses were maximal after the second DC-targeting vaccine administration (week 26, the primary immunogenicity endpoint) and waned somewhat 8 weeks after the final vaccinations (FIG. 1). IgG binding antibody responses to V1V2 region antigens (i.e., a response that correlated with decreased risk of HIV-1 infection in RV144 human clinical trial) were observed in only a few NHPs at the early time point, but were boosted or evoked to almost maximal levels by a single LOX-1 or CD40-targeting vaccination (FIG. 1E-H). Notably, IgG responses to V1V2 were significantly higher (p=0.01 week 26 and p=0.02 week 32) when NYVAC-KC was co-administered with CD40 but not LOX-1 targeting despite similar overall binding antibody levels between the paired groups (see G1/G2, FIG. 1, Table 2). The inventors next confirmed that the V1V2 response in this study was in part due to recognition of the V2 sequence (and not just C1-V1) contained within these antigens by demonstrating that all groups elicited responses to an antigen designed to only expose V2 region conformational and linear epitopes (V2 Tags) (FIG. 1, Table 2). In all cases after the DC-targeting vaccinations, G4 N2Cp2 values were significantly higher than G5 N2C2 for all gp140 antigens and the gp70 B CaseA V1V2 antigen (p-value=0.01) indicating a significant benefit to co-administering poly ICLC with the CD40-targeting vaccine (Table 2).

Low levels of serum IgA specific to Env gp140 was detected in a few animals after the NYVAC-KC vaccinations, but was boosted most in G4 N2Cp2 when viewed as response rate (FIG. 2).

Analysis of the breadth and magnitude of binding antibodies to linear epitopes was evaluated by peptide microarray mapping. Overall, the animals developed binding antibodies against gp120 linear epitopes C1, C2, V3, C3, C4, and C5, with V3 dominating the responses (FIG. 3). Linear binding responses were overall cross-clades, with a preference for Clade C sequences. The C5.2 response was focused on Clade C and the C3 response was restricted to C.ZM651, while the V3 and C1.2 binding was broader cross-clades (Table 3). The magnitude of binding trended higher in Groups G2 N2[CpN]2 and G4 N2Cp2 compared to Groups G1 N2[LpN]2, G3 N2Lp2 and G5 N2C25.

Analysis of neutralizing activity in week 14, week 26, and week 32 plasma samples was performed via TZM.bl and A3R5 assays against a panel of Tier 1 and Tier 2 HIV-1 Env pseudotyped viruses. Neutralizing activity was detected against MW965.26 (clade C, Tier 1A, FIG. 4A) and TH023.6 (CRF01_AE, Tier 1A, not shown). Little or no neutralization was detected against Ce1086_B2, Ce1176_A3, C32010_F5, and DU151.2 viruses (data not shown). Also, no neutralization was detected against 96ZM651.2, Bal.26, CE1086_B2, MN.3, SF162.LS, TV1.21 or MLV (the control for nonspecific activity) (data not shown). Neutralization (NAb) titers against the sensitive viruses (MW965.26 and TH023.6) decreased somewhat from week 26 to week 32 in all groups. Group 4 N2Cp2 had significantly higher ID₅₀ titers to the sensitive viruses than other groups, as well as significantly higher ID₅0 titers to MW965.26 than groups G1 N2(LpN)2 and G5 (N2C2), at weeks 14 and 26 (Table 4). At week 32, 8 weeks post completion of all vaccinations, G3 N2Lp2 and G4 N2Cp2 had the highest neutralizing scores based on individual-specific and group-specific magnitude-breadth (MB) analysis which measures the overall magnitude and breadth of NAb activities for each individual time point (FIG. 4B).

Analysis of ADCC-mediated antibody responses in plasma samples collected at week −4, 14, 26, and 32 were measured via GranToxLux (GTL) assay. In all groups positive GTL responses were observed at week 14 and week 26, two weeks after the DC-targeting vaccine boosts. Group 4 (G4 N2Cp2) included more responses than other groups and positive GTL responses at week 32 were only observed in groups G2 N2(CpN)2 and G4 N2Cp2 (FIG. 5).

2. HIV-1 Env gp140 Targeted to Either LOX-1 or CD40 Elicits Env-specific T Cell Responses in NHPs Primed with a Live Virus Vector.

Peripheral HIV-1 antigen-specific T cell responses to the vaccinations were evaluated by IFNγ ELISPOT analysis of PBMCs. Few or no responses were detected against Env gp140 antigen after the NYVAC-KC administrations, however the DC-targeting vaccine boost raised significant responses against Env gp140 in all animals in all groups except two of the six animals in G5 N2C2, and this included responses against all three Env subdomains sampled (FIG. 6). No significant responses were detected against other HIV-1 antigens represented in the NYVAC-KC Gag Nef Pol vector at any time points (not shown). In the pairwise comparisons G1 N2[LpN]2 vs. G3 N2Lp2 (i.e., LOX-1 targeting with and without co-administered NYVAC-KC) there were no significant differences in anti-Env T cell responses at weeks 26 or 32 (FIG. 6). However, in the pairwise comparisons G2 N2[CpN]2 vs. G4 N2Cp2 (i.e., CD40 targeting with and without co-administered NYVAC-KC) there were was a trend towards higher response with co-administered NYVAC-KC at week 26 (p=0.065) which became a significant difference (p=0.009) at week 32 (FIG. 6). In the pairwise comparison G4 N2Cp2 vs. G5 N2C2 (i.e., CD40 targeting with and without poly ICLC adjuvant) there was a trend to higher responses with poly ICLC (p=0.143 with 6/6 vs. 2/6 responders) at week 26, which became significant at week 32 (p=0.010 with 6/6 vs. 4/6 responders) (FIG. 6).

Peripheral HIV-1 antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell responses to the DC-targeting boost vaccinations (week 26 and 32) were also evaluated by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) analysis of PBMCs. Low level responses were detected in some animals against HIV-1 antigens represented in the NYVAC-KC Gag Nef Pol vector at these sample times, but responses against Env antigens were higher in all groups and were positive in almost all animals (FIG. 7). In pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference among responders to Env only between G4 (N2Cp2) and G5 (N2C2) (i.e., CD40 targeting with versus without poly ICLC adjuvant) at week 26 but not week 32 (p=0.004 and p=0.052; Mann-Whitney U P values). The CD4⁺ T cell responses elicited by the DC-targeting vaccines were of a high quality as IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα were detected in response to Env antigens (FIG. 7).

Peripheral HIV-1 antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses to the DC-targeting boost vaccinations (week 26 and 32) were also evaluated by ICS analysis of PBMCs. Low level responses were detected in some animals against HIV-1 antigens represented in the NYVAC-KC Gag Nef Pol vector at these sample times, but responses against Env antigens were generally higher for all groups (FIG. 8). In pairwise comparisons, there was a significant difference among responders to any protein only with G2 N2(CpN)2>G4 N2Cp2 at week 32 (p=0.029 Mann-Whitney U P value). High quality CD8⁺ T cell responses (as measured by positive responders for IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα) were especially evident in G2 N2(CpN)2 (FIG. 8). Unlike for CD4⁺ T cell responses, poly ICLC adjuvant did not benefit the development of Env-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses (see G4 (N2Cp2) versus G5 (N2C2), FIG. 8).

3. αCD40.Env gp140 Fusion Protein Elicits a More Durable Binding Antibody Response Compared to αLOX-1.Env gp140 Fusion Protein.

Durability of binding and neutralizing antibody responses were assessed by proportion of change per week, which was calculated as [(response at durability time point (wk32—response at peak time point (wk26))/response at peak time point (wk26)]/number of weeks between time points]. Durability was not evaluated for ADCC and T cell response (ICS) due to limited number of responders at the durability time point. Significant differences were observed in the rate of binding antibody response decline observed among the 5 groups of the current study (FIG. 9). Both groups with the αCD40.Env gp140 fusion protein trended for better binding response durability compared to the groups with αLOX-1.Env gp140 fusion protein, i.e., G2 N2[CpN]2>G1 N2[LpN]2 (trend) and G4 N2Cp2>G3 N2Lp2 (trend) for proportion of change per week (FIG. 9A). G4 N2Cp2 showed the best durability among the groups, with significantly slower decline of responses compared to G1 N2[LpN]2 and G5 N2C2 for binding to most gp140s including Con S gp140 CFI and C.con.env03 140 CF (P values 0.0056-0.018, 2-tailed t test) (Table 5). Durability for neutralization response was evaluated only for neutralization of MW965.26 (in TZM-bl cells), due to limited positive responders for other viruses at the durability time point. G4 N2Cp2 also trended for better neutralizing response durability compared to G3 N2Lp2 (FIG. 9B). No significant difference was observed among the groups for the rate of neutralization response decline (Table 5).

4. DC-Targeting Alters Both Humoral and Cellular Responses Compared to a Non-DC Targeted Env Boosting Regimen

The current study did not have a control arm with non-DC-targeted Env gp140. However, a recent study (Garcia-Arriaza J, et al., J Virol 89:8525-8539) included a group of Rhesus macaques (called group 1 N2NP2 (C) in Garcia-Arriaza et al.; here called ExtNDC-N2[NP]2) that received the same 2 NYVAC-KC priming immunizations as in the current study, but boosted with non-DC-targeted Env gp120 (TV1 gp120+1086 gp120 in MF59, 100 μg total) administered together with NYVAC-KC at weeks 12 and 24. Also relevant is another recent study (Zurawski G, et al., PLoS One 11:e0153484) that included a group with the same 2 NYVAC-KC priming immunizations as in the current study, and boosted with the same αLOX-1.Env gp140+poly ICLC vaccine as the current study (called group 1 in 2; here called ExtDC-N2Lp3), except dosing of αLOX-1.Env gp140 was three times at weeks 12, 16, and 20 vs. twice at weeks 12 and 24 in the current study. Similar BAMA, neutralization, ADCC and ICS assays by the same laboratories were performed on those samples as were done for the current study.

Therefore, we were able to compare immunogenicity data for the current study with data from the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 and ExtDC-N2Lp3 immunization animals to gauge the effects of DC-targeting on the magnitude and durability of antibody responses and on the cellular response profiles, with the caveats that the adjuvant (i.e., MF59 vs. poly ICLC) and the antigens (i.e., gp120 TV1 gp120+1086 gp120 vs. gp140 Z96M) were different in the non-DC-targeted ExtNDC-N2[NP]2, and an additional dose of DC targeting vaccine was given in ExtDC-N2Lp3. These comparisons revealed that the non-DC-targeted Env (gp120) ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 immunization elicited considerably higher binding, neutralizing, and ADCC responses compared to the DC-targeting regimens in the current study at the peak immunity time point (week 26 for both studies). Both plasma IgG and IgA binding responses were significantly higher for the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 group at week 26 (FIG. 10A; A Table 6). However, when the peak immunity time for ExtDC-N2Lp3 (same vaccine components as G3 of current study) was included in the analysis these differences were minimized. Binding response, and especially the IgA response, was significantly higher in the DCtargeting ExtDC-N2Lp3 group than G3, indicating that a third DC-targeting boost is advantageous (FIG. 10A; A Table 6). Similarly, neutralizing ID50 titers measured on TZM-bl cells and A3R5 cells against diverse virus targets were significantly higher in the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 group than present study groups, although again the DC-targeting ExtDC-N2Lp3 group developed significantly higher neutralizing responses against two clade C strains TV1 and MW965 (FIG. 10B and Table 7), indicating an improvement of neutralizing response by a third boost. ADCC response measured with Env coated cells was significantly higher for the non-DC-targeted ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 compared to all 5 groups in the current study at week 26 and to the ExtDC-N2Lp3 (FIG. 10C and A Table 8). Despite the significantly higher antibody responses in the non-DC-targeting ExtNDCN2[NP]2 group compared to all 5 groups in the current study, differences in the levels of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell cytokine secreting responses were not as significant (FIG. 10D). The proportions of CD4+ T cells that express any of the 3 cytokines tested for the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 was comparable with the G1 (for any HIV antigen stimulation), G2, and G4 groups in current study (Table 9), though significantly higher than G3, G5 and ExtDC groups (P<0.0001 to 0.046). Meanwhile, G2 and the ExtNDC groups showed CD8+ T cell response comparable to that of the ExtDN group upon any Env antigen stimulation, and all groups from current study, and the ExtDC group, developed CD8+ T cell responses comparable to that of the ExtNDC group upon any Env stimulation (Table 9). In addition, the ExtDC group developed T cell responses significantly higher than G3 group in current study except for CD4+ response upon any Env stimulation, demonstrating the beneficial effect of the additional boost for T cell response as well. Durability for the external non-DC-targeted Env gp120 group (Ext-N2[NP]2) group was also evaluated. Durability time point was not available for the ExtDC-N2Lp3 group in these same assays, and therefore durability was not analyzed for that group. The peak time point was also week 26 for ExtNDC-N2[NP]2, whereas the durability time point was week 36 (12 weeks post the 4th immunization) instead of week 32 in current study. Comparison of proportion of change per week revealed generally better durability of binding and neutralizing responses in the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 (FIG. 11; Tables 10 and 11). ExtNDC group showed significantly better durability compared to G1 N2[LpN]2 for all gp140s tested, significantly higher than G3 N2Lp2 and G5 N2C2 for most of the gp140s tested (P values ranged from <0.0001 to 0.034, 2-tailed t-test) (Table 10), and significantly higher durability for binding to gp70.B.CaseA V1V2 scaffold compared to G1 N2[LpN]2 and G3 N2Lp2 (P=0.007). However, no significant difference was found between ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 and either G2 N2[CpN]2 or G4 N2Cp2 for binding to any antigens (FIG. 11, Table 10), reflecting the advantage of CD40 targeting for durability noted above. Durability of neutralizing response (proportion of change per week) for G2 N2[CpN]2 and G3 N2Lp2 compared to the non-DC-targeting group was not significantly different, but ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 was higher compared to G1 N2[LpN]2, G4 N2Cp2, G5 N2C2, and ExtDC groups (FIG. 11, Table 11). One caveat of comparing the durability of DC-targeting groups in the current study and the non-DC-targeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 by proportion of change per week was the unequal time (weeks) between the peak and durability time points of the 2 studies. It has been shown that the decline of antibody responses after vaccination is at different rates over time, with a much faster initial decline (36). The current study had only 6 weeks between the 2 time points, whereas in the ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 study there was a 10 weeks interval. It is possible that by calculating proportion of change per week, the durability analysis gave the non-DC-targeted ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 a biased advantage; while the durability of the DC-targeting groups in the current study relative to the non-DCtargeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 could in fact be higher.

C. Tables

TABLE 1 Study design for testing antigenicity of αLOX-1.Env gp140 and αCD40.Env gp140 fusion proteins in NHP Group Size Week 0 Week 4 Week 12 Week 24 G1 N2[LpN]2 6 NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC + NYVAC-KC + αLOX-1/poly ICLC αLOX-1/poly ICLC G2 N2[CpN]2 6 NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC + NYVAC-KC + αCD40/poly ICLC αCD40/poly ICLC G3 N2Lp2 6 NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC αLOX-1/poly ICLC αLOX-1/poly ICLC G4 N2Cp2 6 NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC αCD40/poly ICLC αCD40/poly ICLC G5 N2C2 6 NYVAC-KC NYVAC-KC αCD40 αCD40 Week −4 0 2 4 6 14 26 32 Vaccination V V V V V (V) Serum A A A A A A A Collection (A) Blood E E E E E E E Collection (E) Frozen P P P P P PBMC preparation (P) 1 The immunization regimens used in this study. The reference codes for the five vaccination groups are N=NYVAC-KC, L=αLOX-1.Env gp140, p=poly ICLC, 2=administered twice in sequence. NYVAC-KC administration was i.m., DC-targeting protein administration was intradermal (i.d.), and poly ICLC administration was subcutaneous (s.c.) in proximity to the protein. The cells below are in biweekly increments starting at week -4 through week 32. V indicates vaccination dates; A denotes serum collection for antibody response determination; E denotes blood collection for IFNγ ELISPOT measurements; and P denotes frozen PBMC preparation for antigen-specific T cell analysis via flow cytometry including intracellular cytokine staining.

TABLE 2 Comparison between paired groups for plasma IgG binding magnitudes. Antigen Group Antigen Week Group2-1 Group3-1 Group4-2 Group4-3 Group5-4 gp140 00MSA 4076 gp140 26 4144 (0.18) 5109 (0.03*) 8073 (0.24) 7108 (0.48) −14514 (<0.01**) 32 3358 (0.09) 2252 (0.03*) 3866 (0.31) 4971 (0.24) −7798 (<0.01**) gp140 A1.con.env03 140 CF 26 3351 (0.18) 3788 (0.13) 4927 (0.18) 4490 (0.04*) −14802 (<0.01**) 32 3331 (0.09) 3464 (0.06) 6745 (0.18) 6612 (0.06) −11775 (<0.01**) gp140 B.con.env03 140 CF 26 7901 (0.24) 1156 (0.48) −1150 (1) 5595 (0.24) −15361 (<0.01**) 32 2943 (0.18) 1360 (0.31) 2417 (0.7) 4000 (0.04*) −7386 (<0.01**) gp140 C.con.env03 140 CF avi 26 3404 (0.13) 1347 (0.82) 4133 (0.31) 6190 (0.18) −10920 (<0.01**) 32 1694 (0.18) 1502 (0.31) 6995 (0.24) 7187 (0.03*) −11436 (<0.01**) gp140 Con S gp140 CFI 26 5861 (0.24) 2225 (0.24) −1879 (0.7) 1757 (0.39) −13036 (<0.01**) 32 2517 (0.31) 3443 (0.13) 9369 (0.39) 8444 (0.18) −17893 (<0.01**) gp140 ZM96 gp140-Ctag 26 9319 (0.09) 2786 (0.48) 4198 (0.24) 10731 (0.13) −23761 (<0.01**) 32 7596 (0.09) 5197 (0.59) 9296 (0.31) 11695 (0.03*) −25617 (<0.01**) V1V2 AE.A244 V1V2 26 2 (0.59) 2 (0.59) −210 (0.09) −210 (0.13) −9 (0.7) 32 −4 (0.87) 10 (0.63) 0 (0.69) −14 (0.81) −1 (0.94) V1V2 AE.A244 V2 tags 293F 26 373 (0.18) −14 (0.82) −444 (0.13) −57 (0.69) 4 (0.94) 32 43 (0.42) 9 (0.7) −45 (0.38) −11 (0.57) 12 (0.57) V1V2 C.1086 V2 tags 293F 26 −5 (0.82) 19 (0.94) −20 (0.75) −45 (0.75) 3 (0.82) 32 24 (0.87) 36 (0.59) −11 (0.63) −22 (0.09) −12 (0.87) V1V2 C.1086C V1 V2 Tags 26 10284 (0.13) 2331 (0.7) −11860 (0.06) −3906 (0.39) −1500 (0.39) 32 2843 (0.13) 741 (0.59) −2394 (0.39) −291 (1) −1419 (0.31) V1V2 gp70 B.CaseA V1 V2 26 7836 (<0.01**) 2879 (0.18) −708 (0.7) 4249 (0.39) −8507 (0.02*) 32 2318 (0.02*) 809 (0.18) 2951 (0.24) 4460 (0.04*) −5629 (<0.01**) Test results shown are median difference between groups followed by p value in parentheses [median of differences (p values)]. P values are from Wilcoxon rank sum test. Values for comparison are AUC values as measured in BAMA (Materials and Methods) and shown in FIG. 1. Groups are G1 N2[LpN]2, G2 N2[CpN]2, G3 N2Lp2, G4 N2Cp2 and G5 N2C2 (Table 1). Significant differences are bolded and indicated by * for p<0.05 and ** for p<0.01.

TABLE 3 Binding magnitude to linear epitopes by plasma IgG from Group 1-5 animals at the peak response time point (week 26). C1.1 C1.2 C2 V3 C3 C4 V5-C5 C5.2 gp41 ID Group Boost Animal 23-27 33-36 65-68 95-106 111-112 135-139 148-152 157-162 187-189 1 NYVAC-KC + R734 97 2,830 202 4,616 2,686 1 573 1,139 1 aLox/PolyICLC R745 54 3,567 154 14,430 1 1 2,838 269 1 R758 1 4,582 10,900 47,715 3,074 1,747 565 3,937 1 2 NYVAC-KC + R730 1 17,417 7,308 5,314 125 151 1 45,165 1 aLox/PolyICLC R746 6,411 41,288 15,138 51,380 55,490 1,779 32,849 61,527 24,886 R755 2,311 1 17,920 36,921 13,187 1 5,040 133 1 R756 1 10,337 3,976 61,649 537 1 579 1,728 377 3 aLox/PoluICLC R731 1 482 40,485 22,175 3,355 3,661 39 20,533 1 R739 1 147 1,030 1,056 1,013 733 14,977 6,623 1 R749 878 1,194 4,168 3,796 17,472 13 509 43,939 1 4 aCD40/PolyICLC R736 209 10,941 12,794 21,838 19,495 1,578 1,960 8,829 1 R741 2,821 1 3,809 38,028 6,963 1 15 795 1 R748 65,300 14,777 7,002 31,993 9,670 2,705 8,433 8,244 682 R754 15,305 2365 3,304 65,297 49,294 497 2,339 6,115 17,375 5 aCD40 R732 1,820 189 4,235 12,947 1 5,352 1 5,218 1 R737 243 355 8,480 4,639 3,836 2,574 50 1 1 R759 1 821 1 62,969 1,046 1 168 1 1 Epitope regions for gp120 are as shown graphically in FIG. 3 and here include data for the gp41 immunodominant (ID) region. Magnitude shown here are maximum binding =per epitope, which is calculated as the highest signal intensity to a single peptide within a given epitope region. Data in the table are bolded with higher values in bold. The rank order in higher values was G4 N2Cp2 (n=16), G2 N2[CpN]2 (n=14), G3 N2Lp2 (n=6), G1 N2[LpN]2/G5 N2C2 (n=3).

TABLE 4 Comparison between paired groups for serum neutralizing responses. Comparison Assay Type Isolate Week. 14 Week. 26 Week. 32 Grp2-1 TZM-bl t.mw965 130 (0.037*) 129 (0.261) 27 (0.145) t.th023 0 (0.462) −16 (1) 0 (0.462) Grp3-1 TZM-bl t.mw965 98 (0.199) 42 (1) 0 (1) t.th023 0 (0.462) −16 (0.655) 0 (0.405) Grp4-1 TZM-bl t.mw965 372 (0.005*) 130 (0.045*) 68 (0.104) t.th023 0 (0.599) 20 (0.561) 0 (0.462) Grp5-1 TZM-bl t.mw965 35 (0.199) −32 (0.173) 0 (0.753) t.th023 0 (0.599) −16 (0.074) 0 (0.405) Grp3-2 TZM-bl t.mw965 −32 (0.81) −86 (0.378) −27 (0.266) t.th023 0 (0.775) 0 (1) 0 (0.176) Grp4-2 TZM-bl t.mw965 242 (0.093) 1 (0.378) 41 (0.683) t.th023 0 (1) 36 (0.798) 0 (1) Grp5-2 TZM-bl t.mw965 −94 (0.128) −160 (0.045*) −27 (0.18) t.th023 0 (1) 0 (0.176) 0 (0.176) Grp4-3 TZM-bl t.mw965 274 (0.173) 88 (0.092) 68 (0.146) t.th023 0 (0.924) 36 (0.347) 0 (0.176) Grp5-3 TZM-bl t.mw965 −62 (0.471) −74 (0.687) 0 (0.753) t.th023 0 (0.924) 0 (0.176) 0 (NaN) Grp5-4 TZM-bl t.mw965 −336 (0.02*) −162 (0.031*) −68 (0.181) t.th023 0 (1) −36 (0.028*) 0 (0.176) Test results shown are median difference between groups followed by p value in parentheses [median of differences (p values)]. Analysis was by t-test assuming unequal variance between groups and calculated P values are indicated in parentheses. Values used for comparison are serum ID₅₀ titers as shown in FIG. 4. Significant differences (p<0.05) are bolded and indicated by *. Groups are G1 N2[LpN]2, G2 N2[CpN]2, G3 N2Lp2, G4 N2Cp2 and G5 N2C2.

TABLE 5 Analysis of paired comparisons of serum ID₅₀ values. Response Tested Comparison Magnitude Stats p Value IgG: G1 vs. G2 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.045(0.067) 0.168 C.con.env03 G1 vs. G3 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.069(0.029) 0.214 140 CF) G1 vs. G4 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.041(0.014) 0.006** G1 vs. G5 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.092(0.035) 0.930 G2 vs. G3 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.069(0.029) 0.447 G2 vs. G4 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.041(0.014) 0.907 G2 vs. G5 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.092(0.035) 0.165 G3 vs. G4 −0.069(0.029) vs. −0.041(0.014) 0.073 G3 vs. G5 −0.069(0.029) vs. −0.092(0.035) 0.236 G4 vs. G5 −0.041(0.014) vs. −0.092(0.035) 0.0142* IgG: Con S G1 vs. G2 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.057(0.061) 0.180 gp140 CFI) G1 vs. G3 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.075(0.024) 0.153 G1 vs. G4 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.052(0.031) 0.0182* G1 vs. G5 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.108(0.028) 0.488 G2 vs. G3 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.075(0.024) 0.519 G2 vs. G4 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.052(0.031) 0.856 G2 vs. G5 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.108(0.028) 0.103 G3 vs. G4 −0.075(0.024) vs. −0.052(0.031) 0.171 G3 vs. G5 −0.075(0.024) vs. −0.108(0.028) 0.054 G4 vs. G5 −0.052(0.031) vs. −0.108(0.028) 0.007** IgG: G1 vs. G2 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.107(0.034) 0.153 gp70.B.CaseA G1 vs. G3 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.125(0.029) 0.492 V1.V2) G1 vs. G4 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.064(0.081) 0.081 G1 vs. G5 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.142(0.041) 0.915 G2 vs. G3 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.125(0.029) 0.352 G2 vs. G4 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.064(0.081) 0.272 G2 vs. G5 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.142(0.041) 0.292 G3 vs. G4 −0.125(0.029) vs. −0.064(0.081) 0.134 G3 vs. G5 −0.125(0.029) vs. −0.142(0.041) 0.575 G4 vs. G5 −0.064(0.081) vs. −0.142(0.041) 0.101 Neutralization: G1 vs. G2  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.116(0.054) 0.327 MW965.26 G1 vs. G3  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.136(0.031) 0.790 G1 vs. G4  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.124(0.026) 0.184 G1 vs. G5  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.122(0.018) 0.088 G2 vs. G3 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.136(0.031) 0.486 G2 vs. G4 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.124(0.026) 0.760 G2 vs. G5 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.122(0.018) 0.817 G3 vs. G4 −0.136(0.031) vs. −0.124(0.026) 0.546 G3 vs. G5 −0.136(0.031) vs. −0.122(0.018) 0.461 G4 vs. G5 −0.124(0.026) vs. −0.122(0.018) 0.881 Test results shown are median difference between groups followed by p value in parentheses [median of differences (p values)]. Analysis was by t-test assuming unequal variance between groups and calculated P values are indicated in parentheses. Values used for comparison are plasma binding AUC (as shown in FIG. 3) and serum neutralization ID₅₀ titers measured on TZM-bl cells (as shown in FIG. 4). Groups are G1 N2[LpN]2, G2 N2[CpN]2, G3 N2Lp2, G4 N2Cp2 and G5 N2C2 (Table 1). Significant differences are bolded and indicated by * for p<0.05 and ** for p<0.01.

TABLE 6 BAMA peak time point IgG (AUC) and IgA (MFI) magnitude pairwise comparison of non-DC targeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 against DC-targeted groups (G1 to G5 and ExtDC in the current study and ExtDC-N2Lp3) as well as ExtDC against G3. Isotype Analyte Comparison Mean (SD) p Value IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G1 29184(9567) vs. 5334(4248)  p = 0.0567 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G2 29184(9567) vs. 11097(7232) p = 0.0099 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G3 29184(9567) vs. 11454(4469) p = 0.0006 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G4 29184(9567) vs. 14785(4803) p = 0.0078 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G5 29184(9567) vs. 2729(1299)  p < 0.0001 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 29184(9567) vs. 16819(5849) p = 0.016 IgG 00MSA 4076 gp140 G3 vs. ExtDC 11454(4470) vs. 16819(5850) p = 0.0934 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 39323(8491) vs. 11416(4205) p = 0.0002 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 39323(8491) vs. 16951(7958) p = 0.0022 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 39323(8491) vs. 14794(3346) p < 0.0001 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 39323(8491) vs. 21629(5953) p = 0.001 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 39323(8491) vs. 6165(4560)  p = 0.0006 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 39323(8491) vs. 30388(9128) p = 0.1032 IgG A1.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC  14794(3346 vs. 30388(9128) p = 0.002 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 30978(8615) vs. 12795(5496) p = 0.0027 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 30978(8615) vs. 19517(9387) p = 0.107 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 30978(8615) vs. 16564(6097) p = 0.0047 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 30978(8615) vs. 20783(5844) p = 0.0267 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 30978(8615) vs. 4440(1466)  p < 0.0001 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 30978(8615) vs. 21725(8919) p = 0.0549 IgG B.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC 16564(6097) vs. 21725(8919) p = 0.2137 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 52906(8011) vs. 8408(2278)  p < 0.0001 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 52906(8011) vs. 11801(4445) p = 0.0002 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 52906(8011) vs. 9702(3497)  p < 0.0001 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 52906(8011) vs. 14968(5298) p = 0.0002 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 52906(8011) vs. 4996(2451)  p = 0.0001 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 52906(8011) vs. 31053(7462) p = 0.0019 IgG C.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC  9702(3497) vs. 31053(7462) p = 0.0001 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G1 48885(7813) vs. 17947(4889) p = 0.0001 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G2 48885(7813) vs. 23372(7345) p = 0.0027 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G3 48885(7813) vs. 22509(6103) p = 0.0002 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G4 48885(7813) vs. 27231(8472) p = 0.0027 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G5 48885(7813) vs. 11026(4791) p = 0.0004 IgG Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  48885(7813) vs. 42254(10504) p = 0.2161 IgG Con S gp140 CFI G3 vs. ExtDC  22510(6103) vs. 42254(10504) p = 0.0018 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G1 43424(7370) vs. 2764(1709)  p < 0.0001 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G2 43424(7370) vs. 10488(4754) p = 0.0004 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G3 43424(7370) vs. 5563(3734)  p = 0.0008 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G4 43424(7370) vs. 8720(4527)  p = 0.0036 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G5 43424(7370) vs. 1591(2327)  p = 0.0068 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 43424(7370) vs. 10166(5334) p = 0.0019 IgG gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G3 vs. ExtDC  5563(3734) vs. 10166(5334) p = 0.149 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G1 134(135) vs. 10(3)   p = 0.0002 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G2 134(135) vs. 9(3)   p < 0.0001 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G3 134(135) vs. 13(5)   p = 0.0003 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G4 134(135) vs. 21(31)  p = 0.0036 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G5 134(135) vs. 13(3)   p = 0.0005 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 134(135) vs. 261(202) p = 0.1233 IgA 00MSA 4076 gp140 G3 vs. ExtDC   13(5) vs. 261(202) p = 0.0001 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 312(614) vs. 9(5)   p = 0.002 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 312(614) vs. 8(6)   p = 0.0017 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 312(614) vs. 16(5)   p = 0.0107 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 312(614) vs. 42(49)  p = 0.0788 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 312(614) vs. 12(8)   p = 0.0038 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 312(614) vs. 313(577) p = 0.9877 IgA A1.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC   16(5) vs. 313(577) p = 0.0391 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 125(94) vs. 10(3)  p < 0.0001 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 125(94) vs. 9(4)   p < 0.0001 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 125(94) vs. 11(4)  p < 0.0001 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 125(94) vs. 25(24)  p = 0.0037 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 125(94) vs. 10(4)  p < 0.0001 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  125(94) vs. 454(316) p = 0.0065 IgA B.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC   11(4) vs. 454(316) p < 0.0001 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 427(683) vs. 29(19)  p = 0.0033 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 427(683) vs. 17(8)   p = 0.0007 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 427(683) vs. 38(25)  p = 0.008 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 427(683) vs. 60(81)  p = 0.0255 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 427(683) vs. 20(15)  p = 0.0011 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 427(683) vs. 450(448) p = 0.8141 IgA C.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC  38(25) vs. 450(448) p = 0.0271 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G1 390(779) vs. 18(17)  p = 0.0032 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G2 390(779) vs. 16(8)   p = 0.0024 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G3 390(779) vs. 24(11)  p = 0.008 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G4 390(779) vs. 111(197) p = 0.1235 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G5 390(779) vs. 13(13)  p = 0.0012 IgA Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  390(779) vs. 850(1136) p = 0.3007 IgA Con S gp140 CFI G3 vs. ExtDC   24(11) vs. 850(1136) p = 0.0078 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G1 64(57) vs. 9(7)  p = 0.0019 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G2 64(57) vs. 13(9)  p = 0.0136 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G3 64(57) vs. 28(43) p = 0.0831 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G4 64(57) vs. 22(22) p = 0.0679 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G5 64(57) vs. 7(5)  p = 0.0027 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 64(57) vs. 48(34) p = 0.6556 IgA gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G3 vs. ExtDC 28(43) vs. 48(34) p = 0.1912 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups.

TABLE 7 Peak time point neutralization ID50 titers pair-wise comparison of non-DC targeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 against DC-targeted groups (G1 to G5 in the current study and ExtDC- N2Lp3) as well as ExtDC against G3. Assay:Isolate Comparison Mean (SD) p Value* A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. G1 103.87(64.25) vs. 18.17(9.52)  p = 0.0002 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. G2 103.87(64.25) vs. 26.83(14.11)  p = 0.0037 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. G3 103.87(64.25) vs. 12.67(6.53)  p < 0.0001 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. G4 103.87(64.25) vs. 32.67(29.47)  p = 0.0173 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. G5 103.87(64.25) vs. 17.5(11.62)  p = 0.0003 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 103.87(64.25) vs. 49.5(12.06)  p = 0.0531 A3R5:TV1.21.LucR.T2A.ecto G3 vs. ExtDC 12.67(6.53) vs. 49.5(12.06) p < 0.0001 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. G1 60.38(68.86) vs. 14.33(10.61) p = 0.0272 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. G2 60.38(68.86) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0098 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. G3 60.38(68.86) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0098 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. G4 60.38(68.86) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0098 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. G5 60.38(68.86) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0098 TZM-bl:MN.3 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 60.38(68.86) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0098 TZM-bl:MN.3 G3 vs. ExtDC 10(0) vs. 10(0) TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G1 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 104.67(62.34)   p < 0.0001 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G2 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 248.17(204.56)  p = 0.0006 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G3 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 110(86.89)     p = 0.0007 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G4 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 453.33(564.57)  p = 0.0026 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G5 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 105.67(167.7)   p = 0.0002 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 3049.38(2653.11) vs. 915.17(898.84)  p = 0.0281 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G3 vs. ExtDC    110(86.89) vs. 915.17(898.84) p = 0.0105 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. G1 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. G2 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. G3 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. G4 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. G5 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 92.37(93.54) vs. 10(0)    p = 0.0076 TZM-bl:SF162.LS G3 vs. ExtDC 10(0) vs. 10(0) TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. G1 406.5(657.58) vs. 42.5(41.11)  p = 0.0136 TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. G2  406.5(657.58) vs. 108.33(160.32) p = 0.073 TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. G3 406.5(657.58) vs. 98.33(207.2)  p = 0.0301 TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. G4 406.5(657.58) vs. 71.83(75.34)  p = 0.0588 TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. G5 406.5(657.58) vs. 10(0)     p = 0.0005 TZM-bl:TH023.6 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  406.5(657.58) vs. 173.83(228.74) p = 0.3105 TZM-bl:TH023.6 G3 vs. ExtDC  98.33(207.2) vs. 173.83(228.74) p = 0.1586 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups.

TABLE 8 Peak time point ADCC ID50 titers pair-wise comparison of non-DC targeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 against DC-targeted groups (G1 to G5 in the current study and ExtDC N2Lp3) as well as ExtDC against G3. Parameter Comparison Mean (SD) p Value* GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. G1 11.023(5.75) vs. 5.22(6.202)  p = 0.103 GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. G2 11.023(5.75) vs. 6.364(5.121) p = 0.1371 GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. G3 11.023(5.75) vs. 3.81(3.099)  p = 0.0117 GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. G4 11.023(5.75) vs. 8.568(5.331) p = 0.4266 GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. G5 11.023(5.75) vs. 3.469(3.527) p = 0.0107 GTL ADCC:peak ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 11.023(5.75) vs. 1.002(0.207) p = 0.0017 GTL ADCC:peak G3 vs. ExtDC  3.81(3.099) vs. 1.002(0.207) p = 0.0772 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. G1 20.24(9.508) vs. 3.063(3.796) p = 0.001 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. G2 20.24(9.508) vs. 5.908(6.776) p = 0.0064 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. G3 20.24(9.508) vs. 2.292(1.972) p = 0.0009 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. G4 20.24(9.508) vs. 6.805(5.879) p = 0.0071 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. G5 20.24(9.508) vs. 1.678(1.612) p = 0.0008 GTL ADCC:auc ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 20.24(9.508) vs. 1.082(0.405) p = 0.0007 GTL ADCC:auc G3 vs. ExtDC 2.292(1.972) vs. 1.082(0.405) p = 0.1974 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups

TABLE 9 Peak time point CD4+ and CD8+ T 62 cells HIV-specific cytokine secreting response pair-wise comparison of non-DC targeting ExtNDC-N2[NP]2 against DC-targeted groups (G1 to G5 in the current study and ExtDC N2Lp3) as well as ExtDC against G3. Parameter Comparison Mean (SD) p Value* CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G1  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.387(0.361) p = 0.0451 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G2  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.642(0.343) p = 0.4529 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G3  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.305(0.228) p = 0.0184 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G4  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.447(0.287) p = 0.0847 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G5  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.082(0.023) p < 0.0001 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  0.87(0.514) vs. 0.278(0.146) p = 0.0083 CD4+ Any Env AnyCyto G3 vs ExtDC 0.305(0.228) vs. 0.278(0.146) p = 0.9744 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G1 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.441(0.355) p = 0.0555 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G2 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.693(0.359) p = 0.4711 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G3 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.338(0.23)  p = 0.0199 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G4 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.471(0.289) p = 0.0784 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G5 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.115(0.036) p < 0.0001 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 0.919(0.501) vs. 0.428(0.246) p = 0.0465 CD4+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto G3 vs ExtDC  0.338(0.23) vs. 0.428(0.246) p = 0.4299 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G1 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.091(0.063) p = 0.3725 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G2 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.197(0.169) p = 0.6862 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G3 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.054(0.01)  p = 0.0634 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G4 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.074(0.033) p = 0.2111 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G5 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.052(0.006) p = 0.0554 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 0.184(0.226) vs. 0.108(0.056) p = 0.6869 CD8+ Any Env AnyCyto G3 vs ExtDC  0.054(0.01) vs. 0.108(0.056) p = 0.0436 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G1 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.148(0.111) p = 0.0462 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G2 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.212(0.147) p = 0.2487 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G3 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.071(0.032) p = 0.0003 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G4 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.139(0.122) p = 0.0399 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. G5 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.069(0.045) p = 0.0003 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto ExtNDC vs. ExtDC 0.333(0.243) vs. 0.313(0.227) p = 0.7621 CD8+ Any HIV Antigen AnyCyto G3 vs ExtDC 0.071(0.032) vs. 0.313(0.227) p = 0.015 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups

TABLE 10 Pair-wise comparison of durability (proportion of change per week) of binding antibody response among G1-G5 of the current study and ExtNDC-N2[NP]2. Analyte Comparison Mean (SD) p Value* 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.118(0.032) p = 0.0343 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.091(0.037) p = 0.3704 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.099(0.016) p = 0.0268 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.077(0.035) p = 0.9317 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.108(0.021) p = 0.0119 00MSA 4076 gp140 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.075(0.019) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.129 00MSA 4076 gp140 G1 vs. G2 −0.118(0.032) vs. −0.091(0.037) p = 0.2238 00MSA 4076 gp140 G1 vs. G3 −0.118(0.032) vs. −0.099(0.016) p = 0.2571 00MSA 4076 gp140 G1 vs. G4 −0.118(0.032) vs. −0.077(0.035) p = 0.0691 00MSA 4076 gp140 G1 vs. G5 −0.118(0.032) vs. −0.108(0.021) p = 0.5668 00MSA 4076 gp140 G1 vs. ExtDC −0.118(0.032) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.0151 00MSA 4076 gp140 G2 vs. G3 −0.091(0.037) vs. −0.099(0.016) p = 0.6634 00MSA 4076 gp140 G2 vs. G4 −0.091(0.037) vs. −0.077(0.035) p = 0.5044 00MSA 4076 gp140 G2 vs. G5 −0.091(0.037) vs. −0.108(0.021) p = 0.3546 00MSA 4076 gp140 G2 vs. ExtDC −0.091(0.037) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.1241 00MSA 4076 gp140 G3 vs. G4 −0.099(0.016) vs. −0.077(0.035) p = 0.2052 00MSA 4076 gp140 G3 vs. G5 −0.099(0.016) vs. −0.108(0.021) p = 0.3927 00MSA 4076 gp140 G3 vs. ExtDC −0.099(0.016) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.0014 00MSA 4076 gp140 G4 vs. G5 −0.077(0.035) vs. −0.108(0.021) p = 0.0941 00MSA 4076 gp140 G4 vs. ExtDC −0.077(0.035) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.3884 00MSA 4076 gp140 G5 vs. ExtDC −0.108(0.021) vs. −0.063(0.009) p = 0.002 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.117(0.016) p < 0.0001 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.09(0.031)  p = 0.1011 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.095(0.019) p = 0.0088 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.071(0.029) p = 0.6128 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.116(0.02)  p = 0.0004 A1.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.064(0.016) vs. −0.059(0.008) p = 0.4713 A1.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G2 −0.117(0.016) vs. −0.09(0.031)  p = 0.1003 A1.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G3 −0.117(0.016) vs. −0.095(0.019) p = 0.0537 A1.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G4 −0.117(0.016) vs. −0.071(0.029) p = 0.0095 A1.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G5 −0.117(0.016) vs. −0.116(0.02)  p = 0.9043 A1.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. ExtDC −0.117(0.016) vs. −0.059(0.008) p < 0.0001 A1.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G3  −0.09(0.031) vs. −0.095(0.019) p = 0.7586 A1.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G4  −0.09(0.031) vs. −0.071(0.029) p = 0.292 A1.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G5 −0.09(0.031) vs. −0.116(0.02) p = 0.1262 A1.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. ExtDC  −0.09(0.031) vs. −0.059(0.008) p = 0.0585 A1.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G4 −0.095(0.019) vs. −0.071(0.029) p = 0.1241 A1.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G5 −0.095(0.019) vs. −0.116(0.02)  p = 0.0906 A1.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC −0.095(0.019) vs. −0.059(0.008) p = 0.0039 A1.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. G5 −0.071(0.029) vs. −0.116(0.02)  p = 0.0123 A1.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. ExtDC −0.071(0.029) vs. −0.059(0.008) p = 0.3783 A1.con.env03 140 CF G5 vs. ExtDC  −0.116(0.02) vs. −0.059(0.008) p = 0.0004 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.129(0.021) p = 0.0017 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.103(0.04)  p = 0.3158 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.12(0.013)  p = 0.0004 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.1(0.017)  p = 0.0895 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.132(0.015) p = 0.0001 B.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.084(0.012) vs. −0.068(0.011) p = 0.023 B.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G2 −0.129(0.021) vs. −0.103(0.04)  p = 0.2008 B.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G3 −0.129(0.021) vs. −0.12(0.013)  p = 0.3956 B.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G4 −0.129(0.021) vs. −0.1(0.017)  p = 0.0268 B.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G5 −0.129(0.021) vs. −0.132(0.015) p = 0.7818 B.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. ExtDC −0.129(0.021) vs. −0.068(0.011) p = 0.0003 B.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G3 −0.103(0.04) vs. −0.12(0.013) p = 0.3641 B.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G4 −0.103(0.04) vs. −0.1(0.017)  p = 0.8826 B.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G5  −0.103(0.04) vs. −0.132(0.015) p = 0.1481 B.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. ExtDC  −0.103(0.04) vs. −0.068(0.011) p = 0.0878 B.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G4 −0.12(0.013) vs. −0.1(0.017)  p = 0.0538 B.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G5  −0.12(0.013) vs. −0.132(0.015) p = 0.1764 B.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC  −0.12(0.013) vs. −0.068(0.011) p < 0.0001 B.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. G5  −0.1(0.017) vs. −0.132(0.015) p = 0.0073 B.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. ExtDC  −0.1(0.017) vs. −0.068(0.011) p = 0.0045 B.con.env03 140 CF G5 vs. ExtDC −0.132(0.015) vs. −0.068(0.011) p < 0.0001 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.091(0.028) p = 0.035 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.045(0.067) p = 0.6572 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.069(0.029) p = 0.4269 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.041(0.014) p = 0.0646 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.092(0.035) p = 0.0625 C.con.env03 140 CF ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.058(0.016) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.5735 C.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G2 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.045(0.067) p = 0.1682 C.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G3 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.069(0.029) p = 0.2139 C.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G4 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.041(0.014) p = 0.0056 C.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. G5 −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.092(0.035) p = 0.9297 C.con.env03 140 CF G1 vs. ExtDC −0.091(0.028) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.0511 C.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G3 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.069(0.029) p = 0.4468 C.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G4 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.041(0.014) p = 0.9069 C.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. G5 −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.092(0.035) p = 0.1649 C.con.env03 140 CF G2 vs. ExtDC −0.045(0.067) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.5685 C.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G4 −0.069(0.029) vs. −0.041(0.014) p = 0.0734 C.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. G5 −0.069(0.029) vs. −0.092(0.035) p = 0.2355 C.con.env03 140 CF G3 vs. ExtDC −0.069(0.029) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.5723 C.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. G5 −0.041(0.014) vs. −0.092(0.035) p = 0.0142 C.con.env03 140 CF G4 vs. ExtDC −0.041(0.014) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.0172 C.con.env03 140 CF G5 vs. ExtDC −0.092(0.035) vs. −0.062(0.007) p = 0.0848 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.097(0.025) p = 0.0068 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.057(0.061) p = 0.9456 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.075(0.024) p = 0.1181 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.052(0.031) p = 0.8115 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.108(0.028) p = 0.0034 Con S gp140 CFI ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.055(0.017) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.7156 Con S gp140 CFI G1 vs. G2 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.057(0.061) p = 0.1803 Con S gp140 CFI G1 vs. G3 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.075(0.024) p = 0.1527 Con S gp140 CFI G1 vs. G4 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.052(0.031) p = 0.0182 Con S gp140 CFI G1 vs. G5 −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.108(0.028) p = 0.4876 Con S gp140 CFI G1 vs. ExtDC −0.097(0.025) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.0053 Con S gp140 CFI G2 vs. G3 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.075(0.024) p = 0.5186 Con S gp140 CFI G2 vs. G4 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.052(0.031) p = 0.8562 Con S gp140 CFI G2 vs. G5 −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.108(0.028) p = 0.1033 Con S gp140 CFI G2 vs. ExtDC −0.057(0.061) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.8649 Con S gp140 CFI G3 vs. G4 −0.075(0.024) vs. −0.052(0.031) p = 0.1712 Con S gp140 CFI G3 vs. G5 −0.075(0.024) vs. −0.108(0.028) p = 0.0536 Con S gp140 CFI G3 vs. ExtDC −0.075(0.024) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.0737 Con S gp140 CFI G4 vs. G5 −0.052(0.031) vs. −0.108(0.028) p = 0.0072 Con S gp140 CFI G4 vs. ExtDC −0.052(0.031) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.9582 Con S gp140 CFI G5 vs. ExtDC −0.108(0.028) vs. −0.052(0.01)  p = 0.0031 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.139(0.036) p = 0.0069 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G2 −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.107(0.034) p = 0.0725 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G3 −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.125(0.029) p = 0.007 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G4 −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.064(0.081) p = 0.7421 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. G5 −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.142(0.041) p = 0.1063 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC −0.076(0.012) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.1501 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G1 vs. G2 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.107(0.034) p = 0.1533 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G1 vs. G3 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.125(0.029) p = 0.4923 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G1 vs. G4 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.064(0.081) p = 0.081 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G1 vs. G5 −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.142(0.041) p = 0.9146 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G1 vs. ExtDC −0.139(0.036) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.014 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G2 vs. G3 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.125(0.029) p = 0.3521 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G2 vs. G4 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.064(0.081) p = 0.2721 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G2 vs. G5 −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.142(0.041) p = 0.2918 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G2 vs. ExtDC −0.107(0.034) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.1795 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G3 vs. G4 −0.125(0.029) vs. −0.064(0.081) p = 0.1336 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G3 vs. G5 −0.125(0.029) vs. −0.142(0.041) p = 0.5754 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G3 vs. ExtDC −0.125(0.029) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.0183 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G4 vs. G5 −0.064(0.081) vs. −0.142(0.041) p = 0.101 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G4 vs. ExtDC −0.064(0.081) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.5557 gp70.B.CaseA V1.V2 G5 vs. ExtDC −0.142(0.041) vs. −0.085(0.011) p = 0.1386 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups

TABLE 11 Pair-wise comparison of durability (proportion of change per week) of neutralizing activity among G1-G5 of the current study and ExtNDC-N2[NP]2. Parameter Comparison Mean (SD) p Value* TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G1 −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.14(0.007) p < 0.0001 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G2  −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.116(0.054) p = 0.3022 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G3  −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.136(0.031) p = 0.0586 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G4  −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.124(0.026) p = 0.0239 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. G5  −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.122(0.018) p = 0.017 TZM-bl:MW965.26 ExtNDC vs. ExtDC  −0.09(0.006) vs. −0.078(0.011) p = 0.0473 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G1 vs. G2  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.116(0.054) p = 0.3268 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G1 vs. G3  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.136(0.031) p = 0.7903 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G1 vs. G4  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.124(0.026) p = 0.1843 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G1 vs. G5  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.122(0.018) p = 0.0875 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G1 vs. ExtDC  −0.14(0.007) vs. −0.078(0.011) p < 0.0001 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G2 vs. G3 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.136(0.031) p = 0.486 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G2 vs. G4 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.124(0.026) p = 0.7603 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G2 vs. G5 −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.122(0.018) p = 0.8167 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G2 vs. ExtDC −0.116(0.054) vs. −0.078(0.011) p = 0.1522 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G3 vs. G4 −0.136(0.031) vs. −0.124(0.026) p = 0.5462 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G3 vs. G5 −0.136(0.031) vs. −0.122(0.018) p = 0.4605 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G3 vs. ExtDC −0.136(0.031) vs. −0.078(0.011) p = 0.0282 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G4 vs. G5 −0.124(0.026) vs. −0.122(0.018) p = 0.8805 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G4 vs. ExtDC −0.124(0.026) vs. −0.078(0.011) p = 0.0057 TZM-bl:MW965.26 G5 vs. ExtDC −0.122(0.018) vs. −0.078(0.011) p = 0.0031 *p values are from t-test assuming unequal variance between groups.

All of the methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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What is claimed is:
 1. An anti-Dendritic Cell (DC) receptor antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein comprising, (i) an anti-DC receptor heavy chain (HDCR)-HIV antigen (Ag) fusion protein comprising the formula: HDCR-Ag, wherein Ag is a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1; and (ii) an anti-DC receptor light chain (LDCR).
 2. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein further comprises one or more peptide linkers (PL).
 3. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the fusion protein comprises: (i) HDCR-PL-Ag; and (ii) LDCR.
 4. The fusion protein of claim 1, further comprising one or more joining sites (JS), wherein the joining site comprises alanine and serine residues.
 5. The fusion protein of claim 1, further comprising one or more joining sites (JS), wherein the joining site consists of alanine and serine residues.
 6. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises: (i) HDCR-JS-PL-JS-Ag-JS; and (ii) LCD40; wherein JS is a joining site and PL is a peptide linker, and LCD40 is an anti-CD40 light chain.
 7. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the peptide linker comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2.
 8. The fusion protein of claim 3, wherein PL-Ag comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:3.
 9. The fusion protein of claim 1, which is an anti-CD40 antibody-HIV antigen fusion protein comprising (i) an anti-CD40 heavy chain (HCD40)-HIV antigen (Ag) fusion protein comprising the formula: HCD40-Ag, wherein Ag is a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1; and (ii) an anti-CD40 light chain (LCD40).
 10. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein the anti-CD40 antibody is a human or humanized anti-CD40 antibody.
 11. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein the anti-CD40 antibody comprises human IgG4 heavy chain constant region.
 12. The fusion protein of claim 11, wherein the human IgG4 heavy chain constant region comprises one or both of S241P and L248E substitutions.
 13. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein the HCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:4.
 14. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein the LCD40 comprises a polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5.
 15. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein HCDR comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GFTFSDYYMY (SEQ ID NO:10), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINSGGGSTYYPDTVKG (SEQ ID NO.:11), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence RGLPFHAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:12).
 16. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein LCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence SASQGISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:13) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSILHS (SEQ ID NO.:14) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence QQFNKLPPT (SEQ ID NO.:15).
 17. The fusion protein of claim 9, comprising (i) a HCD40-Ag fusion protein comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6; and (ii) a LCD40 comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:5.
 18. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein HCDR comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYSFTGYYMH (SEQ ID NO.:18), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence RINPYNGATSYNQNFKD (SEQ ID NO.:19), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence EDYVY (SEQ ID NO.:20).
 19. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein LCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH (SEQ ID NO.:21) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence KVSNRFS (SEQ ID NO.:22) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence SQSTHVPWT (SEQ ID NO.:23).
 20. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein HCDR comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1H, CDR2H and CDR3H, the CDR1H having the amino acid sequence GYTFTDYVLH (SEQ ID NO.:26), the CDR2H having the amino acid sequence YINPYNDGTKYNEKFKG (SEQ ID NO.:27), and the CDR3H having the amino acid sequence GYPAYSGYAMDY (SEQ ID NO.:28).
 21. The fusion protein of claim 9, wherein LCD40 comprises the complementarity determining regions CDR1L, CDR2L and CDR3L, the CDR1L having the amino acid sequence RASQDISNYLN (SEQ ID NO.:29) the CDR2L having the amino acid sequence YTSRLHS (SEQ ID NO.:30) and the CDR3L having the amino acid sequence HHGNTLPWT (SEQ ID NO.:31).
 22. A vaccine composition comprising the fusion protein of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
 23. A method for treating or preventing HIV in a subject, the method comprising administering the fusion protein of claim
 1. 24. A method for enhancing a T cell response and/or antibody cell response in a subject, the method comprising administering the fusion protein of claim
 1. 25. A method for inducing IgG binding antibody responses to V1V2 region antigens in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering the fusion protein of claim
 1. 